Depression in grandparents raising grandchildren: results of a national longitudinal study
M. Minkler, E. Fuller-Thomson, D. Miller and D. Driver
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 94720-7360, USA.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of undertaking custodial care of a
grandchild on grandparents' depression levels and to determine what
characteristics are associated with higher depression levels among
caregiving grandparents. DESIGN: A longitudinal national probability panel
study: the National Survey of Families and Households. The first wave of
data (n= 13 008) was collected in 1987 and 1988, and the second wave of
data (n=10008) was collected from 1992 through 1994. SETTING: The survey
was conducted in respondents' households in the coterminous United States.
PARTICIPANTS: The subsample for this study was composed of 3111 respondents
who reported being grandparents during the 1992-1994 interviews and for
whom complete depression information was available. Of these grandparents,
158 were the primary caregivers for their grandchildren in the 1990s. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression was measured using a modified version of the
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: Those who
provide primary care for a grandchild are almost twice as likely to have
levels of depressive symptoms above the traditional Center for
Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale cut point of 16 (25.1% vs 14.5%).
Even when controlling for baseline depression and demographic variables
known to affect depressive symptoms, undertaking the care of a grandchild
was associated significantly with higher depression levels in a
multivariate prospective analysis (P<.01). Among caregiving
grandparents, those who recently assumed caregiving responsibilities
(P<.05) and women (P<.10) were more depressed and older respondents
(P<.10) and those in good health (P<.001) were less depressed.
CONCLUSIONS: Undertaking the primary care of a grandchild is associated
with an increase in levels of depression. Particularly in light of the
recent dramatic increase in the prevalence of grandparent caregiving in the
United States, physicians need to explore familial role changes with
midlife and older patients who have symptoms of depression. Special
attention should be paid to the most at-risk subsets of grandparent
caregivers: those who are new caregivers, those in poor health, those who
are younger, and women.
Risk of Psychological Difficulties Among Children Raised by Custodial Grandparents
Smith and Palmieri
Psychiatr. Serv. 2007;58:1303-1310.
ABSTRACT
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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Stressors, Social Support, and Health Outcomes
Leder et al.
Journal of Family Nursing 2007;13:333-352.
ABSTRACT
All in the Family: The Impact of Caring for Grandchildren on Grandparents' Health
Hughes et al.
J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2007;62:S108-S119.
ABSTRACT
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Stress and Coping in African American Grandparents Who Are Raising Their Grandchildren
Ross and Aday
Journal of Family Issues 2006;27:912-932.
ABSTRACT
Caregiving to Children and Grandchildren and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women
Lee et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2003;93:1939-1944.
ABSTRACT
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Intergenerational Triads in Grandparent-Headed Families
Goodman
J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2003;58:S281-289.
ABSTRACT
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Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Family Structure and Well-Being in Culturally Diverse Families
Goodman and Silverstein
Gerontologist 2002;42:676-689.
ABSTRACT
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Psychological Well-Being of Black and White Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Examination of a Two-Factor Model
Pruchno and McKenney
J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2002;57:P444-452.
ABSTRACT
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Health of Grandmothers: A Comparison by Caregiver Status
Musil and Ahmad
J Aging Health 2002;14:96-121.
ABSTRACT
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Impact of a National Satellite Video Program
TARG and BRINTNALL-PETERSON
Journal of Family Issues 2001;22:579-593.
ABSTRACT
Does Raising Your Grandchildren Cause Depression?
JWatch Psychiatry 1997;1997:19-19.
FULL TEXT
DOES RAISING YOUR GRANDCHILDREN CAUSE DEPRESSION?
JWatch General 1997;1997:6-6.
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