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Custodial Grandmothers’ Physical, Mental, and Economic Well‐Being: Comparisons of Primary Caregivers from Low‐Income Neighborhoods *
Author(s) -
Bachman Heather J.,
ChaseLansdale P. Lindsay
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2005.00334.x
Subject(s) - grandparent , mental health , psychology , physical health , welfare , psychological distress , well being , primary caregiver , developmental psychology , psychiatry , political science , law , psychotherapist
To examine the implications of custodial grandparent care, we compared the material hardship, mental health, and physical well‐being of custodial grandmothers ( n = 90) and biological mothers ( n = 1,462) using data from Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three‐City Study. Custodial grandmothers reported significantly more physical health problems but less psychological distress than mothers. Younger grandmothers and grandmothers who sought out more social support were the most disabled and financially strained. Implications for policy and practice addressing the needs of grandmothers raising grandchildren are discussed.