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Cited by 144Intergenerational Family Dynamics and CaregivingNursing care and researchFamily Support in Illness

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Stressors, Social Support, and Health Outcomes

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Leder, Sharon, Grinstead, Linda Nicholson, Torres, Elisa·2007·Journal of Family Nursing
DOI 10.1177/1074840707303841
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Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to identify predictors of grandparent caregiver health status. Additional purposes were to describe the physical and emotional health of grandparent caregivers and the perceived benefits of support group attendance. A convenience sample of 42 grandparents was recruited from support groups. Data were collected through telephone interviews. Grandparents who had higher parenting stress reported lower levels of physical, social, and mental health. Inverse correlations were present between life stress and mental health. Positive correlations were found between social support and physical health. No pattern emerged in a comparison of the health of caregiving grandparents and a normative sample. Emotional support was the primary benefit derived from support group attendance. There were modest inverse associations between the length of time the child had lived with the grandparent and six of the eight indicators of grandparent health.

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  39. Sharon Leder, DSN, RN, is an associate professor at the Kirkhof College of Nursing at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her clinical specialty is child/adolescent mental health nursing, and her research interest is family caregiving stress. Recent publica- tions include "Psychotherapeutic Treatment Outcomes in Grandparent-Raised Children," in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing (2003, with L. N. Grinstead, S. Jensen, & L. Bond) and "Review of Research on the Health of Caregiving Grandparents" in Journal of Advanced Nursing (2003, with L. N. Grinstead, S. Jensen, & L. Bond). Leder et al. / Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 351

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Authors
Leder, S., Grinstead, L. N., & Torres, E.
Affiliations
Grand Valley State University (US)
ORCID
Torres, Elisa
Venue
Journal of Family Nursing
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2007-08
Volume
13
Issue
3
Pages
333-352
ISSN
  • 1074-8407 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-549X
DOI
10.1177/1074840707303841
OpenAlex
W2165586484
Cited by
144
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 13
FWCI
19.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Family Nursing (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ScholarWorks - GVSU (Grand Valley State University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Family Support in Illness
Keywords
grandparent caregivers, caregiver health, parental stress, life events, social support, emotional support, support groups, mental health, physical health, social health
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Infant, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Self-Help Groups, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Midwestern United States, Nursing Methodology Research, Parenting, Intergenerational Relations, Family Nursing

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