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Grandmother Kinship Care Providers: Predictors Of Elevated Psychological Distress, Deborah M. Whitley
Grandmother Kinship Care Providers: Predictors Of Elevated Psychological Distress, Deborah M. Whitley
Deborah M. Whitley
Most children in kinship care with grandmothers in the U.S. have been abandoned or maltreated. The challenges these caregivers encounter often include poverty, social isolation, and diminished health. These factors may hinder the grandmother’s ability to provide a supportive family environment. The purpose of the present study was to determine levels of psychological distress in African American caregiving grandmothers and identify predictors of increased distress in African American custodial grandmothers. We hypothesized that diminished grandmother health, family resources and support, as well as increased child behavior problems, will predict psychological distress.
Psychological Distress In African American Grandmothrs Raising Grandchildren: The Contribution Of Child Behavior Problems, Physical Health, And Family Resources, Susan Kelley, Deborah Whitley, Peter Campos
Psychological Distress In African American Grandmothrs Raising Grandchildren: The Contribution Of Child Behavior Problems, Physical Health, And Family Resources, Susan Kelley, Deborah Whitley, Peter Campos
Deborah M. Whitley
Diminished psychological health has been identified among caregiving grandmothers. The intent of this investigation was to examine psychological distress levels, as well as their predictors, in a sample of 480 caregiving African American grandmothers, mean age 56 years. Almost 40% (39.8%) of participants had clinically elevated psychological distress scores. Results of hierarchical multiple regression indicated that internalizing and externalizing child behavior problems, poor grandmother physical health, younger age of grandmother, and lack of family resources predicted 31% of the variance in psychological distress. Results provide direction for nursing interventions aimed at enhancing the psychological well-being of caregiving grandmothers.
African American Caregiving Grandmothers: Results Of An Intervention To Improve Health Indicators And Health Promotion Behaviors, Susan Kelley, Deborah M. Whitley, Peter Campos
African American Caregiving Grandmothers: Results Of An Intervention To Improve Health Indicators And Health Promotion Behaviors, Susan Kelley, Deborah M. Whitley, Peter Campos
Deborah M. Whitley
The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an intervention to improve the health of grandmothers raising grandchildren. A pre- and post-test design was employed with 504 African American grandmother participants. The intervention included monthly home-based visitation by registered nurses (RNs) and social workers, participation in support groups and parenting classes, referrals for legal services, and early intervention services for children with special needs. The Health Risk Appraisal was used to assess health indicators and health promotion behaviors. A comparison of pre- and post-test scores indicated significant (p < .002) changes in the desired direction for a number of health indicators and health promotion behaviors, including blood pressure, annual routine cancer screenings, frequency of weekly exercise, and improved dietary intake, as well as participants’ perception of their health and life satisfaction. No improvements were observed in the proportion of participants who were obese or overweight.