The Gerontologist, Vol 34, Issue 2 206-216, Copyright © 1994 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

Grandparents who parent their grandchildren: circumstances and decisions

MP Jendrek
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056.

This research is based on in-depth interviews with 114 grandparents who responded to advertisements that appeared in the media, schools, and courts. Three major categories of grandparent roles emerged from the data: custodial, living with the grandchild, and day-care roles. At one end of the continuum of care, custodial grandparents often obtain that relationship because of severe problems in the nuclear family. At the other end, day-care grandparents provide regular help to the grandchild's nuclear family. The decision to provide care is often based on an "impulse to care," especially among custodial and living- with grandparents. Grandparents who provide regular day care to grandchildren generally have offered to do so.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. A. Baker and M. Silverstein Preventive Health Behaviors Among Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2008; 63(5): S304 - S311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Erbert and M. W. Aleman Taking the grand out of grandparent: Dialectical tensions in grandparent perceptions of surrogate parenting Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, August 1, 2008; 25(4): 671 - 695. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. R. Lumpkin Grandparents in a Parental or Near-Parental Role: Sources of Stress and Coping Mechanisms Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2008; 29(3): 357 - 372. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. L. Letiecq, S. J. Bailey, and M. A. Kurtz Depression Among Rural Native American and European American Grandparents Rearing Their Grandchildren Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2008; 29(3): 334 - 356. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. L. Stevenson, T. L. Henderson, and E. Baugh Vital Defenses: Social Support Appraisals of Black Grandmothers Parenting Grandchildren Journal of Family Issues, February 1, 2007; 28(2): 182 - 211. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. E. T. Ross and L. A. Aday Stress and Coping in African American Grandparents Who Are Raising Their Grandchildren Journal of Family Issues, July 1, 2006; 27(7): 912 - 932. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. M. Musil, C. B. Warner, J. A. Zauszniewski, A. B. Jeanblanc, and K. Kercher Grandmothers, caregiving, and family functioning. J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2006; 61(2): S89 - S98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Henderson Grandparent Visitation Rights: Justices' Interpretation of the Best Interests of the Child Standard Journal of Family Issues, July 1, 2005; 26(5): 638 - 664. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Hayslip Jr. and P. L. Kaminski Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren: A Review of the Literature and Suggestions for Practice Gerontologist, April 1, 2005; 45(2): 262 - 269. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Minkler and E. Fuller-Thomson African American Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: A National Study Using the Census 2000 American Community Survey J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2005; 60(2): S82 - S92. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. L. Henderson Grandparent Visitation Rights: Successful Acquisition of Court-Ordered Visitation Journal of Family Issues, January 1, 2005; 26(1): 107 - 137. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Landry-Meyer and B. M. Newman An Exploration of the Grandparent Caregiver Role Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2004; 25(8): 1005 - 1025. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. W. Peek, T. Koropeckyj-Cox, B. A. Zsembik, and R. T. Coward Race Comparisons of the Household Dynamics of Older Adults Research on Aging, March 1, 2004; 26(2): 179 - 201. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. P. Jendrek GRANDPARENTS: FAMILY SUPPORTERS, CUSTODIAL CAREGIVERS, AND DOLLS Gerontologist, October 1, 2003; 43(5): 771 - 774. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Mayer Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren: Circumstances and Interventions School Psychology International, November 1, 2002; 23(4): 371 - 385. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Goodman and M. Silverstein Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Family Structure and Well-Being in Culturally Diverse Families Gerontologist, October 1, 2002; 42(5): 676 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Pruchno and D. McKenney Psychological Well-Being of Black and White Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren: Examination of a Two-Factor Model J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., September 1, 2002; 57(5): P444 - 452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. CAPUTO Grandparents and Coresident Grandchildren in a Youth Cohort Journal of Family Issues, July 1, 2001; 22(5): 541 - 556. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. C. GOODMAN and M. SILVERSTEIN Grandmothers Who Parent Their Grandchildren: An Exploratory Study of Close Relations Across Three Generations Journal of Family Issues, July 1, 2001; 22(5): 557 - 578. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Uhlenberg Integration of Old and Young Gerontologist, June 1, 2000; 40(3): 276 - 279. [Full Text]

				K. A. HARRISON, G. S. RICHMAN, and G. L. VITTIMBERGA Parental Stress in Grandparents Versus Parents Raising Children With Behavior Problems Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2000; 21(2): 262 - 270. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. S. Ghuman, M. D. Weist, and M. E. Shafer Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Emotionally Disturbed Children Being Raised by Grandparents Psychiatr Serv, November 1, 1999; 50(11): 1496 - 1498. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. PEBLEY and L. L. RUDKIN Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren: What Do We Know? Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 1999; 20(2): 218 - 242. [Abstract] [PDF]