Impact of Grandchild Caregiving on African American Grandparents.
Preethy S Samuel, Christina N Marsack, Lisa A Johnson and 3 others
PMID 27805833WHAT IT FOUND
Most African American grandparent caregivers enjoyed caring for grandchildren.
Grandchild behavioral problems were linked to negative health and leisure effects. Co-residence and daily care were linked to negative leisure effects, and co-residence was linked to negative financial impact.
Key findings
01Most grandparent caregivers enjoyed caring for their grandchild, and only 2% said they did not enjoy it at all.
02Grandparents of grandchildren with psychiatric or behavioral problems were about eight times more likely to report negative health impact and about 14 times more likely to report negative leisure impact than grandparents of grandchildren with no health problems.
03The most common reasons for co-residence were parents' financial burdens (21%), young age (14%), work or education (13.3%), and illness or death (13%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The data were cross-sectional, so the study did not follow grandparents over time. Grandparent enjoyment and negative impacts were measured with single self-report items. Grandchild health status was self-reported, and many participants could not describe or state a diagnosis. Subgroups of grandchildren with specific health problems were small. Participants came from a Detroit-area volunteer pool, so the findings may not apply to other African American grandparents or other regions. People with difficulties speaking English, hearing, auditory comprehension, or cognitive limitations that prevented telephone survey were excluded.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that grandchild caregiving caused negative health, financial, or leisure effects. This cross-sectional survey found associations, and most participants reported no negative impact on health or finances.