Showing papers on "Grandparent published in 2013"
26 Aug 2013
TL;DR: For example, the authors in this article reviewed recent research to understand the internet use, and emerging policy priorities, regarding children from birth to eight years old, and found that children are now going online at a younger and younger age, and that young children's lack of technical, critical and social skills may pose a greater risk.
Abstract: Over the last six years there has been a major increase in online activity by children up to eight years old, a leading international internet survey has found. The trend has prompted growing concern for children’s safety – and especially the risks they may be exposed to through videos, apps and touch-screens, says the EU Kids Online Report, to which Australia contributes through the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI). This report critically reviews recent research to understand the internet use, and emerging policy priorities, regarding children from birth to eight years old. Executive summary EU Kids Online has spent seven years investigating 9-16 year olds’ engagement with the internet, focusing on the benefits and risks of children’s internet use. While this meant examining the experiences of much younger children than had been researched before EU Kids Online began its work in 2006, there is now a critical need for information about the internet-related behaviours of 0-8 year olds. EU Kids Online’s research shows that children are now going online at a younger and younger age, and that young children’s “lack of technical, critical and social skills may pose [a greater] risk”. Key findings This report critically reviews recent research to understand the internet use, and emerging policy priorities, regarding children from birth to eight years old. Key findings are as follows: Over the last five to six years there has been a substantial increase in internet usage by children under nine years old. This increase is not uniform across countries but seems to follow usage patterns among older age cohorts – in countries where more children overall use the internet, they also go online younger. The substantial increase in usage by very young children has not yet been matched by research exploring the benefits and risks of their online engagement, so there are many gaps in our knowledge. Children under nine years old enjoy a variety of online activities, including watching videos, playing games, searching for information, doing their homework and socialising within children’s virtual worlds. The range of activities increases with age. It has not been established that children under nine years old have the capacity to engage with the internet in a safe and beneficial manner in all circumstances, especially when it comes to this age group socialising online, either within ageappropriate virtual worlds or as underaged participants in sites intended for teenagers and adults (Facebook, You Tube etc.). Video sharing sites are popular with children in this age group and are one of the first sites very young children visit. As such, the ease with which children can access inappropriate video content is of concern. There is an emerging trend for very young children (toddlers and pre-schoolers) to use internet connected devices, especially touchscreen tablets and smartphones. This is likely to result in an increasing number of very young children having access to the internet, along with a probable increase in exposure to risks associated with such internet use. The variety of internet connected devices and apps available today risks compromising the privacy and safety of young children. Different operating environments complicate the use of security and safety settings on individual devices, and the numerous applications (apps) available for children tend not to disclose the company’s data collection and sharing practices. Nor do they usually provide easy-to-use opt-out options for parents or children. Children’s digital footprints are now taking shape from very young ages. Some parents are writing blogs, and parents and grandparents regularly post photographs and videos of babies and children. These digital footprints are created for children who are too young to understand or consent (or who may not even be born, if their parents post ultrasound scans). Children’s future ability to find, reclaim or delete material posted by others is uncertain.
319 citations
TL;DR: Improvements in self-rated health and mobility associated with caregiving support the hypothesis that caring for grandchildren can be beneficial for grandparents in Taiwan, especially for long-term multigenerational caregivers.
Abstract: OBJECTIVES To understand how caring for grandchildren affects the physical and mental health of grandparents in Taiwan. METHOD Grandparents aged 50 and older from 4 waves of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (1993-2003, n = 3,711) were divided into 7 categories based on living arrangement and caregiving history. Generalized estimation equations controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and disease status were used to estimate the relationship between caregiving and 4 outcomes: self-rated physical health, mobility limitation, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Compared with noncaregivers, long-term multigenerational caregivers were more likely to report better self-rated health, higher life satisfaction, and fewer depressive symptoms. We found some evidence of reduced mobility limitations for both skipped-generation and nonresidential caregivers relative to noncaregivers. The associations in self-rated health and depressive symptoms were more pronounced in long-term caregivers than among those who recently started caregiving. DISCUSSION Improvements in self-rated health and mobility associated with caregiving support our hypothesis that caring for grandchildren can be beneficial for grandparents in Taiwan, especially for long-term multigenerational caregivers. Comparing Taiwanese grandparents across different types of caregiving shows that the associations of grandparent caregiving with health vary by living arrangement and duration. However, these findings may not be causal because caregiving and health outcomes were observed simultaneously in our data.
162 citations
TL;DR: For both men and women, absolute mobility rates (i.e., total, up to three generations of family members) were found to be higher for men than women.
Abstract: Using data from three British birth cohort studies, we examine patterns of social mobility over three generations of family members. For both men and women, absolute mobility rates (i.e., total, up...
154 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of nonresidential grandparents in children's lives, grandparents' influence in three-generational families, and the well-being of families in which grandparents are raising their grandchildren.
Abstract: Recent trends such as increased life expectancy, decreases in family size, and the rise of both single-parent families and maternal employment increase the potential for grandparents to play important roles in the lives of their grandchildren. In this article, I review recent research and discuss directions for research on grandparents' influence on the lives of children and adolescents. I consider the role of nonresidential grandparents in children's lives, grandparents' influence in three-generational families, and the well-being of families in which grandparents are raising their grandchildren. Research regarding the influence of nonresident grandparents on children is inconclusive, with several studies indicating no or negligible roles for grandparents in such families. Studies of three-generational families suggest that children in such arrangements often fare just as well as children in married families, although these patterns vary by race. Finally, new research highlights areas of need and strength in custodial grandparent families and future research seeks to examine how these factors relate to children's well-being.
125 citations
TL;DR: In-depth understanding of the phases of Parenting under Pressure provides direction for nurses to support parents of children who survive hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Abstract: rempel g.r., ravindran v., rogers l.g. & magill-evans j. (2013) Parenting under pressure: a grounded theory of parenting young children with life-threatening congenital heart disease. Journal of Advanced Nursing69(3), 619–630. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06044.x
Abstract
Aim. To report a grounded theory study to describe the process of parenting young children who have survived hypoplastic left heart syndrome to inform parent-focused interventions.
Background. Technological advances in paediatric cardiology worldwide have improved the survival rates for young children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who undergo staged surgical palliation. These children, however, are at risk for life-threatening complications and parents are charged with the responsibility to monitor their children at home with minimal support and guidance from healthcare professionals once home.
Design. A constructivist grounded theory study.
Method. The study was conducted in 2006–2008. Participants were 25 parents (15 mothers, 10 fathers) and 28 grandparents (17 grandmothers, 11 grandfathers) of 15 young children (6 months–4·5 years) who had undergone the Sano surgical approach for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The 53 interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analysed using open and focused coding, constant comparative analysis and memoing.
Findings. A process of Parenting under Pressure emerged that was characterized by four overlapping and re-emerging phases: (1) realizing and adjusting to the inconceivable; (2) growing increasingly attached; (3) watching for and accommodating the unexpected; and (4) encountering new challenges.
Conclusions. In-depth understanding of the phases of Parenting under Pressure provides direction for nurses to support parents of children who survive hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Interventions that help carers of children with complex health conditions move through the phases of our Parenting under Pressure process may help them safeguard the survival of their children, and their own survival as parents as they manage multiple demands.
101 citations
TL;DR: The findings showed that needs and opportunities informed involvement of grandparents but that the availability of formal child care did not predict grandparents' involvement, and that grandparental child care may be part of an emerging reproductive strategy.
Abstract: This study explored the involvement of grandparents in the care for young children and its effect on subsequent child births in dual-earner families, using data on 898 Dutch men and women aged 18–49 from the Netherlands' Kinship Panel Study. Three theoretical perspectives were used to develop hypotheses: (a) needs and opportunities, (b) normative preferences, and (c) gendered involvement of grandparents. The findings showed that needs and opportunities informed involvement of grandparents but that the availability of formal child care did not predict grandparents' involvement. Maternal grandparents were more likely to provide child care than paternal grandparents, and grandmothers were more likely to do so than grandfathers. Involvement of both maternal and paternal grandparents in turn increased the likelihood of additional child births. The authors conclude that grandparental child care may be part of an emerging reproductive strategy. Implications of these findings for the theoretical approaches used are discussed.
88 citations
01 Jul 2013
TL;DR: In this article, the full-text provided on King's Research Portal is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Post-Print version this may differ from the final Published version, and if citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version for pagination, volume/issue, and date of publication details.
Abstract: Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on King's Research Portal is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Post-Print version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version for pagination, volume/issue, and date of publication details. And where the final published version is provided on the Research Portal, if citing you are again advised to check the publisher's website for any subsequent corrections.
76 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the phenomenon of grandparent caregiving in two different cultural contexts, the U.S. and China, and provided background information on left-behind children and grandparents in rural China.
Abstract: This study explores the phenomenon of grandparent caregiving in two different cultural contexts, the U.S. and China. We begin with an overview of the evolution of grandparent caregiving in the U.S., including the strengths and service needs of this population. We then provide background information on left-behind children and grandparents in rural China. With this group in mind, we review a range of evidence-based practices, programs, and policies that have been implemented to support grandparent caregiving in the U.S. Keeping in mind the similarities and differences between the two societies, we conclude with recommendations for adapting these interventions to the Chinese context. This comparative approach furthers our knowledge of how families in diverse contexts around the world are adapting to the challenges of grandparent caregiving and contributes to the building of a core evidence base for interventions.
63 citations
TL;DR: The mental health histories of both parents and grandparents play an important role in the social and emotional wellbeing of young children, and these relationships are examined across three generations of Australian families.
Abstract: It is well known that children of parents with mental illness are at greater risk of mental illness themselves. However the patterns of familial mental health problems across multiple generations in families are less clear. This study aimed to examine mental health relationships across three generations of Australian families. Mental health data, along with a range of family demographic information, were collected from over 4600 families in Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a nationally representative cohort study. The social and emotional wellbeing of two cohorts of children aged 4–5 years and 8–9 years was measured using the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The mental health of mothers and fathers was measured using the Kessler 6-item K6 scale, and the mental health history of maternal and paternal grandmothers and grandfathers was measured using a dichotomous parent-report item. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used assess the relationships between grandparent and parent mental health and child social and emotional wellbeing at ages 4–5 years and 8–9 years. Both cohorts of children had greater mental health distress with higher SDQ scores on average if their mother or father had a mental health problem. For children aged 8–9 years, a history of mental health problems in maternal grandmothers and grandfathers was associated with higher SDQ scores in grandchildren, after controlling for maternal and paternal mental health and other family characteristics. For children aged 4–5 years, only a mental health history in paternal grandfathers was associated with higher SDQ scores. The mental health histories of both parents and grandparents play an important role in the social and emotional wellbeing of young children.
62 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, 29 New Zealand grandparents described the joys and wonder of grandparenting, however, boundaries must be continually negotiated or conflict can occur and the need to balance connection with their grandchildren and the rights of their adult children to raise children in accordance with their own values.
Abstract: Grandparents play a key role in many families. Examining talk about grandparenting provides a way to understand expectations structured by family roles and wider societal expectations. In this study, 29 grandparents talked about their experiences of grandparenting in New Zealand. Participants described the joys and wonder of grandparenting, however, boundaries must be continually negotiated or conflict can occur. Participants described governing their behaviour according to the need to balance connection with their grandchildren and the rights of their adult children to raise children in accordance with their own values. Grandparents constructed relationships with grandchildren as demonstrations of involvement without crossing boundaries into interference. To achieve this, the contemporary grandparent-grandchild relationship was described as based on caring and companionship. Tensions between involvement and interference provide a framework through which grandparents monitor and balance an appropriate level of interaction with grandchildren and may constrain their ability to intervene in family difficulties.
58 citations
TL;DR: It can be inferred from results that youth mental illness can constitute a source of loss and grief for parents, and the importance of clinicians acknowledging parents’ loss and grieving and working directly with this experience over the course of youths’ treatment is underscore.
Abstract: Parents and family members whose adult child or relative has a mental illness endure significant losses, to which they respond with grief. Such grief may negatively affect family members’ physical and psychological health and also the relationship with their relative. Yet, research in this field is sparse. Very few studies have examined parents’ loss and grief in the context of the patient being a child or teen. It is not clear the extent to which parents’ loss and grief in response to their child or adolescent’s mental illness is similar or different to the accounts of older parents and family members caring for an adult relative with major psychopathology (e.g., Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder). Parental loss and grief is not often addressed in child and adolescent mental health services’ provision of care; alarmingly, little is known about how best to support parents who access these services. The present study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap and identify the therapeutic needs of this younger parent population. Comprehensive interviews were conducted with 14 parents and one custodial grandparent of a youth aged 18 years or younger who was currently attending a child and adolescent mental health service. An inductive thematic analysis identified six themes; parents’ narrative of finding out, profound and pervasive loss, complex grief, waning support, the challenges of caregiving and a call for assistance. It can be inferred from these results that youth mental illness can constitute a source of loss and grief for parents. Participants’ loss and grief was largely consistent with the experience of families caring for an adult relative with major psychopathology. Opportunities for mental health practitioners to support families’ loss and grief were identified. Further studies are needed to enhance understanding of this complex and, to a large extent, ignored familial experience. Results do underscore the importance of clinicians acknowledging parents’ loss and grief and working directly with this experience over the course of youths’ treatment, perhaps in conjunction with family psychoeducation approaches.
TL;DR: Speech-language pathology assessment and intervention could be enhanced by interweaving the valuable insights of children, siblings, friends, parents, teachers, and other adults within children's worlds to more effectively support these children in context.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate whether present-day ninth grade students with top marks in Swedish and mathematics tend to descend from grandparents who did well in these school-subjects too and examine the extent to which such inheritance is domain-specific and works through the educational attainment of the previous two generations.
Abstract: We investigate whether present-day ninth grade students with top marks in Swedish and mathematics tend to descend from grandparents who did well in these school-subjects too. We also examine the extent to which such inheritance is domain-specific and works through the educational attainment of the previous two generations. The study is based on grandsons (n = 6,110) and granddaughters (n = 5,658) of subjects born in Uppsala 1915–1929. Results show that the odds of students receiving top marks in mathematics and Swedish tend to increase the higher the marks their grandparents achieved in these subjects. However, associations differ by the specific school-subject and according to the gender-specific intergenerational line of transmission. In broad terms, our results indicate that grandfathers are important for the transmission of mathematical and linguistic ability to their granddaughters and grandsons. Grandmothers appear to play a smaller role in the transmission of abilities, with the distinct exception of the transmission of linguistic ability from maternal grandmothers to their granddaughters. The fact that associations vary quite strongly according to type of ability and the gender-specific line of intergenerational transmission implies that we should be looking to historical context and learning environments rather than to a simple genetic transmission model to explain our findings.
TL;DR: Those with unmet needs were younger, more likely to be Native Hawaiian, and less likely to receive public assistance.
Abstract: Most in-depth studies of grandparents raising grandchildren use samples recruited from service providers, so little is known about those who do not use formal services. A sample of 200 grandparents registered with a public school district completed a survey on service use and unmet service needs. Of the 131 who did not use services, 82 reported unmet service needs, and 49 reported no needs. Those with unmet needs were younger, more likely to be Native Hawaiian, and less likely to receive public assistance. These findings indicate that some grandparents are falling through the cracks of the service provision network.
TL;DR: This paper analyzes data from the 2005 Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey, the 2008 Chinese Residents’ Time Use Survey, and a study conducted by the author to raise awareness of the enormous caregiving contributions made by older adults.
Abstract: Older adults around the world provide care and support for their family, relatives, and friends This not only generates immense economic and social value, but is also an important aspect of productive aging This paper analyzes data from the 2005 Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS), the 2008 Chinese Residents’ Time Use Survey, and a study conducted by the author (Sun Popul J 4:14–18, 2006) In rural China, because the young labor force works in cities, a large number of “left-behind children” live with their grandparents Such cross-generational families made up over a quarter of rural households in 2005 In the cross-generational family, the role and value of caregiving for grandchildren by elderly grandparents has been strengthened, as has the burden of care placed upon them Based on an analysis of the policies and practices of productive aging, this paper seeks to raise awareness of the enormous caregiving contributions made by older adults Collecting information on older adult caregiving will help inform a policy framework to provide professional and systematic support, so that family and social care systems can operate effectively
TL;DR: Grandparents served a protective role on zBMI for youth of Hispanic descent, except for the Cuban subgroup, and in some cases grandparents may serve a protective function for childhood obesity.
Abstract: This study evaluated the rate of Hispanic children who have grandparents involved in caretaking and whether grandparents' involvement had a negative impact on feeding practices, children's physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). One-hundred and 99 children and their parents were recruited at an elementary school. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding their children's grandparents' involvement as caretakers and the feeding and physical activity practices of that grandparent when with the child. Children's height and weight were measured and zBMI scores were calculated. Forty-three percent of parents reported that there was a grandparent involved in their child's caretaking. Grandparents served a protective role on zBMI for youth of Hispanic descent, except for the Cuban subgroup. There was no relationship between grandparent involvement and feeding and physical activity behaviors. In some cases grandparents may serve a protective function for childhood obesity. These results highlight the need for future research on grandparents and children's health, especially among Hispanic subgroups.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined demographic, personal, and environmental factors associated with close grandparent-grandchild relationships and revealed intertwined directional effects of these predictors of grandparent/grandchild closeness.
Abstract: Improved health and extended life expectancy have provided opportunities for more adult grandchildren to interact with their grandparents. Applying an ecological perspective, the current study examined demographic, personal, and environmental factors associated with close grandparent–grandchild relationships. Participants were 470 young adults aged 18–27 (M = 20.16). Adult grandchildren's perceptions of their relationships with their favorite/close grandparents were examined retrospectively in three stages (childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood). Predictors of grandparent–grandchild closeness include grandparent–grandchild contact frequency, grandparents’ education levels and general health, and personality traits. Path analysis revealed intertwined directional effects of these predictors of grandparent–grandchild closeness.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors test Affection Exchange Theory in the context of college students' relationships with their grandparents by examining the extent to which college students report of received love and esteem, caring, memories and humor, and celebratory affection from their grandparents.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test Affection Exchange Theory in the context of college students’ relationships with their grandparents by examining the extent to which college students’ reports of received love and esteem, caring, memories and humor, and celebratory affection from their grandparents are associated with grandchildren's mental health (i.e., stress, depression, and loneliness). Two hundred-fourteen young adult grandchildren (i.e., 18–25 years old) completed a series of questionnaires. In support of the hypotheses, the results of partial Pearson correlational analyses indicate that grandchildren's stress, depression, and loneliness are negatively related to their received memories and humor and celebratory affection from their grandparents. Surprisingly, grandchildren's mental health was not significantly related to their received love and esteem and caring affection from their grandparents.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed a measure to assess grandchildren's received affectionate communication from their grandparents and found that grandchildren's reports of received affection from their parents are related positively to, and generally predictive of, their relational characteristics (i.e., liking, relational satisfaction, and communication satisfaction).
Abstract: Because the use of affectionate communication may differ across relational contexts (Mansson & Booth-Butterfield, 2011), the purpose of this study was to develop a measure to assess grandchildren's received affectionate communication from their grandparents. Participants (N = 662) were young adult grandchildren recruited from two public universities. The results of principal component analyses, Pearson correlations, one-sampled t tests, and multiple linear regressions indicate that grandchildren receive four types of affectionate communication from their grandparents: love and esteem; caring; memories and stories; and celebratory affection. The results further indicate that grandchildren's reports of received affection from their grandparents are related positively to, and generally predictive of, their relational characteristics (i.e., liking, relational satisfaction, and communication satisfaction) with their grandparents. These findings provide a valuable contribution to both the affectionate communica...
TL;DR: The relationship between temporal context, developmental context, and ethnic/racial context of the life course as it relates to grandparenthood in the twenty-first century is discussed in this paper.
Abstract: African American grandparents serve important roles as surrogate parents. Historically they are honored and recognized for their extraordinary service in augmenting the child welfare system. This article provides a contemporary view of the significant number of African American grandparents who serve as surrogate parents. Their assets and challenges are discussed. Following on the work by Dr. Linda Burton and collaborators in 1995, this article addresses the relationship between temporal context, developmental context, and ethnic/racial context of the life course as it relates to grandparenthood in the twenty-first century. In addition to the discussion of African American grand-parenting trends, challenges and benefits in the twenty-first century, the article presents implications of these contexts for the surrogate parenting by older African Americans relative to social work education, research, and policy.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors test AET in the grandparent-grandchild relationship and find that grandchildren's reports of received affection from their grandparents would be associated positively with the grandchildren's perceived GP-GC relational characteristics (i.e., trust, commitment and control mutuality).
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to test Affection Exchange Theory (AET) in the grandparent–grandchild (GP-GC) relationship. Specifically, it was hypothesized that grandchildren's reports of received affection from their grandparents would be associated positively with the grandchildren's perceived GP-GC relational characteristics (i.e., trust, commitment, and control mutuality). To that end, 220 young adult grandchildren (i.e., 18–25 years old) completed a series of questionnaires in reference to their relationship with a specific grandparent. The results of multiple regression analyses largely supported the predictions. The findings obtained in this study bolster AET's utility in the context of GP-GC relationships and establish factorial and construct validity of the newly developed Grandchildren's Received Affection Scale.
TL;DR: Investigation of the relationship between oral health-related behaviors of 5-year-old children in Southern China and SOC of their caregiver found sugary snack intake behavior of the children was not associated with the mother’s or the father's SOC, but was associated with their grandparents.
Abstract: Background: Sense of coherence (SOC) is hypothesized to be an important psychological factor that enables people to cope with stressors and successfully maintain and improve health. Mother’s SOC has been shown to be an important psychological factor associated with oral health and oral health-related behaviors of adolescents and 11- to 12-year-old children. However, little is known about the relationship between the caregiver’s SOC and oral health-related behaviors of the preschool children. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral health-related behaviors of 5-year-old children in Southern China and SOC of their caregiver. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a randomized sample of 1332 children aged 5 years and their caregivers in Guangzhou, Southern China. Data were collected through questionnaires completed by the caregivers. The Chinese short version of Antonovsky’s SOC scale (13 items) was employed to assess the caregiver’s SOC. The outcome variables were the child’s oral health-related behaviors, including frequency of sugary snack intake, toothbrushing frequency, utilization of dental service, and pattern of dental visits. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the variables. Results: No association was found between the children’s sugary snack intake and the mother’s or the father’s SOC. After adjustment for other significant factors related to the child’s oral health-related behaviors, 8.9% of the children whose grandparents (as caregivers) had higher SOC scores had a lower frequency of sugary snack intake, compared with the children whose grandparents had lower SOC scores (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.50–0.73, p= 0.008). The other measures of oral health-related behaviors of the child were not significantly associated with the caregiver’s SOC. Conclusion: Sugary snack intake behavior of the 5-year-old children was not associated with the mother’ so r the father’s SOC. It was associated with the SOC of their grandparents, who are a small group of the caregivers in China.
TL;DR: Early childhood overweight should be addressed in a sensitive and respectful manner and should consider whether the index child should be present during discussion, and all the child's caretakers should be considered a target for intervention.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Prevalence of overweight in children has increased significantly in many countries in the past decades. Few parents identify their own children as overweight, especially very young children. Motivating parents is difficult, and interventions to attain normal weight often fail. OBJECTIVE To explore parents' views and experiences when health professionals identify their preschool child as overweight. METHODS In-depth interviews were held with parents of 10 overweight children aged 2.5-5.5 years. Parents were recruited at well child clinics in rural parts of eastern Norway. Interviews were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS Parents presented themselves and their toddlers as vulnerable. To protect their child from developing low self-esteem and eating disorders, some parents preferred their child not to be present when discussing overweight. Growth charts were looked upon as objective and useful. Parents talked readily about their own weight experiences. Being overweight themselves represented both a barrier to, and motivation for, dealing with their toddler's overweight. Parents appreciated support from professionals in kindergarten, but grandparents often undermined the parents' effort to make changes. CONCLUSIONS Early childhood overweight should be addressed in a sensitive and respectful manner and should consider whether the index child should be present during discussion. It may be helpful for clinicians to discuss parents' own weight and dieting experiences and concerns about eating disorders. All the child's caretakers should be considered a target for intervention, and grandparents and kindergarten professionals should be included.
01 Apr 2013
TL;DR: Declines in fertility that have reduced family size, increases in the financial resources available to all generations, and improvements in the health of older adults are all changes with consequences for grandparent caregiving.
Abstract: Family structure, educational attainment, and personal resources play a large role in whether or not grandparents become caregivers for their grandchildren.Contributions by grandparents to the care and well-being of descendant generations are well-documented in developed, developing, and less developed countries (Fuller-Thomson and Minkler, 2001; Hughes et al., 2007; Zimmer and Dayton, 2005; Hermalin, 2002). But there is a socioeconomic divide when considering the reasons grandparents serve as care providers for their younger grandchildren (Arber and Timonen, 2012).In wealthier countries, particularly those with high female labor force participation, grandparent caregivers are most often considered "mother savers," allowing mothers of young grandchildren to work in the paid labor force. In poorer nations and low-income communities in wealthier nations, grandparents serve primarily as "child savers," taking care of children whose parents are no longer living, or are challenged or not competent to engage in effective parenting.But in rapidly developing countries, grandparents are more aptly characterized as "family maximizers," allowing adult children to take advantage of expanding labor markets and acquire resources from which all generations in the family benefit (Baker and Silverstein, 2012). Nowhere is this latter type of grandparenting more prevalent than in China, a nation that has achieved unprecedented economic growth in the last two decades.Research has demonstrated that when adult children migrate for jobs, this migration benefits the "leftbehind" grandparent caregivers by increasing remittances received from those children (Silverstein, Cong, and Li, 2006). Grandparents who care for their grandchildren have been shown to benefit from their efforts in improved psychological wellbeing (Cong and Silverstein, 2008) and physical health (Chen and Liu, 2012).There is also evidence that good psychological and physical health are selective qualities that enable these grandparents to enter the caregiving role in the first place (Baker and Silverstein, 2012). Yet even among these relatively fit grandparents, policy makers and program planners in China have recognized the strains and challenges faced by elderly childcare providers. Providers often have limited economic resources and a questionable ability to manage difficult children; however, few initiatives have been implemented to serve the unique needs of these grandparents as a special class.Rapid social and economic change in China has potentially altered opportunities for grandparent caregiving and the conditions under which it occurs. Declines in fertility that have reduced family size, increases in the financial resources available to all generations, and improvements in the health of older adults are all changes with consequences for grandparent caregiving. This article examines whether such changes in family structure and resources through the first decade of the twenty-first century have altered the likelihood that grandparents in rural China will provide care for their grandchildren. In recent years, personal and family circumstances have changed for older grandparents; some circumstances have reduced the demand to provide care and others have enhanced grandparents' capacity to do so.Effects of Fertility Rate, Employment, and EducationAlthough fertility decline in rural China is less dramatic than in urban China, the number of grandchildren available for grandparents to care for has been greatly reduced because of family planning policies and the increased cost of child-rearing (Usui and Tsuruwaka, 2011). Individuals born between 1948 and 1957 had an average of 2.8 children, compared to the approximately four children born, on average, in the previous generation (Zimmer and Kwong, 2003). Reduced family size implies that there are fewer adult children who require grandparents to provide childcare, and fewer grandchildren who need it. …
TL;DR: Whether grandparent-headed coresidential households benefit preschool-aged children’s school readiness is examined, employing propensity score techniques to account for selection into these households and findings reveal living with a grandparent is not associated with child outcomes for families that select into such arrangements but is positively associated with reading scores and behavior problems for families with a low propensity to coreside.
Abstract: Following the ongoing increase in nonmarital fertility, policy makers have looked for ways to limit the disadvantages faced by children of unmarried mothers. Recent initiatives included marriage promotion and welfare-to-work programs. Yet policy might also consider the promotion of three generational households. We know little about whether multigenerational households benefit children of unwed mothers, although they are mandated for unmarried teen mothers applying for welfare benefits. Multigenerational households are also becoming increasingly common. Thus, using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (N = 217), this study examines whether grandparent-headed coresidential households benefit preschool-aged children’s school readiness, employing propensity score techniques to account for selection into these households. Findings reveal living with a grandparent is not associated with child outcomes for families that select into such arrangements but is positively associated with reading scores and b...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted qualitative research using focus groups and face-to-face interviews with grandparent caregivers to understand their perceptions of well-being in the context of raising grandchildren.
Abstract: Grandparents often become the primary caregivers for their grandchild(ren) with little or no prior notice. This familial change and added responsibility raises a number of concerns related to the overall emotional well-being for grandparent caregivers. Qualitative research using focus groups and face-to-face interviews with grandparent caregivers (N = 15) was conducted to better understand their perceptions of well-being in the context of raising grandchildren. Major themes identified included setting limits with adult children, responding to grandchildren's trauma, and resilience. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
TL;DR: The authors explored the challenges grandparents experience generating and shifting income streams in later life, the variability in received income, and the array of expected and unexpected expenses incurred as a result of taking in their grandchildren.
Abstract: Increasingly, grandparents are being called on to rear their grandchildren when parents are unable or unwilling to fulfill their parenting role. These grandparent caregivers often find themselves in an economic bind. Financially, most are at a stage in life where they are looking toward retirement and reduced family spending and are unprepared for their new economic reality as second-time-around caregivers. Here, we use a framework of family financial well-being to examine the economic consequences of rearing grandchildren. Based on family life interviews with 26 grandfamilies residing in Montana, we explore the challenges grandparents experience generating and shifting income streams in later life, the variability in received income, and the array of expected and unexpected expenses incurred as a result of taking in their grandchildren. As custodial grandparents strive for financial well-being, there are few resources—especially in rural areas—to help them navigate these new financial waters.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the experience of grief as reported by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, and analyzed the paradoxical dimension of grandparents' experience as they navigate the complex issues that characterise their predominantly unanticipated role.
Abstract: The grandparent-as-parent role is a growing social issue both within Australia and internationally. This paper explores the experience of grief as reported by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The data presented are part of a larger qualitative study that investigated the lived experience of 34 grandparents who have taken on the full-time care of grandchildren when their own children have been unable to parent them. In-depth interviews conducted with the grandparent participants and analysed through a three-layer narrative analysis reveal the paradoxical dimension of grandparents’ experience as they navigate the complex issues that characterise their predominantly unanticipated role. While all of the grandparents referred to the benefits, satisfaction, and joy of taking on the parenting of grandchildren, their narratives were deeply imbued with experiences of loss and grief. The discussion analyses this experience in relation to grief theory and posits that the complex and disenfr...
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of new communication technologies on domestic life and the changing nature of connection across a variety of family relationships, including couples, parents and children, adult siblings, and grandparents and grandchildren.
Abstract: Family life is complex and dynamic. It forms a core part of our existence. Underpinning family life, is family connection: how families not just communicate with each other, but how they share their lives and routines, how they engage in social touch, and how they negotiate being together, or being apart. This book explores the various ways in which family members “connect” within the same household, across distance, or across time. It investigates the impact of new communication technologies on domestic life and the changing nature of connection across a variety of family relationships, including couples, parents and children, adult siblings, and grandparents and grandchildren.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: A small but statistically significant positive correlation between grandchild care and physical health, cognitive functioning and mental health is found and these relationships are robust to controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, social engagement, and intergenerational support.
Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of occasional grandchild care on grandparent health using the pan-European dataset SHARE on elderly people. We find a small but statistically significant positive correlation between grandchild care and physical health, cognitive functioning and mental health. These relationships are robust to controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, social engagement, and intergenerational support. Using propensity score matching, we can show that the findings are also robust to the underlying functional form. To see whether they can be interpreted as causal, we exploit the panel character of the data and use an instrumental variable approach. Applying these methods, the effects seem to be smaller than the OLS correlations suggested.