The editor of the Journal of Grandparenting Research regularly searches the grandparenting database for relevant articles in current publications. Following is a listing of subject matter, authors, and their sources. Please let us know of any additional articles of interest.

Recent Research

Authors: Minkler, M., Fuller-Thomson, E. The health of grandparents raising grandchildren; results of a national study. American Journal of Public Health. 1999 Sep;89(9): 1384-9. This study compares the self-rated health of grandparents raising grandchildren with non-caregiving grandparents. Data analysis compared 173 custodial, and 3304 noncustodial grandparents in terms of functional health limitations, self-rated health and satisfaction with health. Results showed that custodial grandparents were significantly more likely to have limitations in 4 of the 5 activities of daily living examined. The authors conclude that further research into this issue is warranted.

Authors: Linda M. Drew, Mary H. Richard and Peter K. Smith. Title: GRANDPARENTING AND IT'S RELATIONSHIP TO PARENTING. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, U.K. All three authors are at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Linda M. Drew has a masters degree from California State University, Northridge. She is currently a research associate and a graduate student researching grandparents emotional health and coping strategies when they lose contact with their grandchildren through parental separation or divorce. Mary Richard is a graduate student. She is researching aspects of inter-generational transmission as they relate to bully/victim status in adolescents. Peter K. Smith is Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths College. He is co-author of Understanding Children's Development (Blackwells, 1997, 1988, 1991), and of Cooperation in the Multi-ethnic Classroom (David Fulton, 1994); editor of The Psychology of Grandparenthood (Routledge, 1991); and co-editor of School Bullying: Insights and Perspectives (Routledge, 1994), Tackling Bullying in your School (Routledge, 1994), and Theories of Theories of Mind (CUP, 1995). Grandparenthood occupies a significant part of the life cycle and it has a significant impact on parenting. This impact can be characterised in terms of gender roles, styles of grandparenting and indirect and direct patterns of grandparent-parent-grandchild influence. We review parenting styles and their relationship to recent insights in attachment theory which may illuminate processes of intergenerational transmission. Implications for practitioner use of attachment theory and categories of functional and dysfunctional grandparenting are presented. We discuss two related areas in which grandparent roles are particularly under stress, grandparents acting as custodial parents and grandparent-grandchild contact loss in cases of parental separation or divorce. Grandparents legal rights to visitation in the U.S.A. and U.K. and the use of mediation to help solve grandparent-grandchild contact loss are summarised. Linda Drew is on the advisory board of the Foundation or Grandparenting.

Author: Warner, Virginia et al. TITLE: Grandparents, Parents, and Grandchildren at High Risk for Depression; A Three Generation Study. SOURCE: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 38:3, March 1999 pg. 2889. Multigenerational studies can be clinically useful as they can provide information for risk prediction from one generation to another. This study shows that Major Depressive Disorder in grandparent and parent is associated with grandchild anxiety. Parental Major Depressive Disorder is associated with an increased risk for grandchild disruptive disorder. Children in families with multiple generations of depression are at particularly high risk for some form of psychopathology.

Author: Uhlenberg, Peter.; Hammill, Bradley G. TITLE: Frequency of grandparent contact with grandchild sets: six factors that make a difference. SOURCE: The Gerontologist v. 38 no3 (June '98) p. 276-85 biblil.
ABSTRACTS: Using data from the second wave of the National Survey of Families and Households, the authors examine the determinants of frequent and infrequent visiting between grandparents and their grandchild sets. A grandchild set consists of all the children of a particular child of the grandparent, provided that the grandchildren reside in their parent's household. The 6 significant predictors of frequent or infrequent contact are geographic distance, quality of relationship between grandparent and parent of the grandchild set, number of grandchild sets, gender of grandparent, lineage of the grandchild set, and marital status of the grandparent.

AUTHOR: Gilbert, Susan. TITLE: Rising stress of raising a grandchild. SOURCE: New York Times (Late New York Edition) (July 28 '98) . F7 il.
ABSTRACTS: The full-time care of grandchildren can lead to health problems in the grandparents. Around 4 million U.S. children live in homes headed by a grandparent, a figure that has increased greatly in recent years due to substance abuse byparents, child neglect and abuse, and divorce. The emotional problems faced by these children can put a strain on grandparents who are trying to cope, and physicians are now starting to realize that the stress suffered by grandparents can lead to problems such as depression, anxiety, alcoholism, high blood pressure, and stroke. Furthermore, grandparents can often neglect their own health in favor of their grandchildren, particularly if money is an issue. Fortunately, there has been an explosion in support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren, where the grandparents can voice their concerns and learn to develop their inner strengths.

AUTHOR: Cohen, Philip. TITLE: Thanks Gran. (humans may owe their longevity to
grandmothers). SOURCE: New Scientist v. 157 no2120 (Feb. 7 '98) p. 14
ABSTRACTS: According to a new study carried out by researchers at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, humans may owe their longevity to grandmothers. By studying modern tribesthat subsist on wild foods, the researchers found that postmenopausal women with no children still gathered large quantities of food and often gave the surplus to their own grandchildren. This would have helped humans to compete against species with self-sufficient young and could also explain why humans live so long. The researchers also suggest that the late maturity and small size at weaning that have evolved in humans were driven by grandmothers.

AUTHOR: Somary, Karen.; Stricker, George TITLE: Becoming a grandparent: a longitudinal study of expectations and early experiences as a function of sex and lineage. SOURCE: The Gerontologist v. 38 (Feb. '98) p. 53-61 bibl il.
ABSTRACTS: First-time grandparents (N = 152) participated in a study of expectations of grand parenthood while their first grandchild was still in utero. One to 2 years after their first grandchild was born, they were asked to fill out the Thomas (1990) grandparent questionnaire again, and 103 did so. Expectations and experiences of grandparenthood were compared separating grandparents by sex and by lineage. Expectations and experiences of grandparenthood differed by both grandparent sex and lineage. In particular, grandmothers reported greater satisfaction and overall meaning in grandparenthood than grandfathers, whereas grandfathers felt more able to offer child-rearing advice to the parents. In regard to lineage, maternal grandparents were more satisfied in grandparenthood than they expected to be, whereas paternal grandparents were not.

AUTHOR: Szinovacz, Maximiliane E. TITLE: Grandparents today: a demographic profile.
SOURCE: The Gerontologist v. 38 (Feb. '98) p. 37-52 bibl il.
ABSTRACTS: This article presents a demographic profile of grandparents, using the National Survey of Families and Households. Specific dimensions of grand parenthood addressedinclude grandparents' survival, the timing of grandparenthood, grandparents' involvement in other roles, surrogate parenting, and stepgrandparents. The data indicate considerable heterogeneity among grandparents of different genders and races or ethnicities. They also suggest modifications in previous descriptions of modern grandparenthood.

AUTHOR: Pearson, Jane L.; Hunter, Andrea G.; Cook, Joan M. TITLE: Grandmother involvement in child caregiving in an urban community. SOURCE: The Gerontologist v. 37 (Oct. '97) p. 650-7 bibl il.
ABSTRACTS: In a community-defined, epidemiologic sample in East Baltimore, we examined grandmothers' rates of co-residence and their involvement in four parenting activities. Co-residence rates exceeded the national average. Six types of family households with grandmothers were identified, and their frequency varied by race. Neither grandmother age nor employment was associated with grandmothers' parenting involvement, although family structure was. Grandmothers who were the sole parent (21%) or co-parent with a grandfather (6.5%) were most involved in child care and had the fewest number of helpers. Grandmothers living with single mothers (41%) were the next most involved, while grandmothers in mother/father households (9%) were least involved.

AUTHOR: Strawbridge, William J.; Wallhagen, Margaret I.; Shema, Sarah J. TITLE: New burdens or more of the same? Comparing grandparent, spouse, and adult-child caregivers. SOURCE: The Gerontologist v. 37 (Aug. '97) p. 505-10 bibl il.
ABSTRACTS: This study compares the health of 42 grandparent, 44 spouse, and 130 adult-child caregivers with 1,669 noncaregivers in 1994 and 1974. In 1994, all three caregiver groups had poorer mental health than the noncaregivers; grandparent caregivers also had poorer physical health and greater activity limitations. Spouse and adult-child caregivers had not differed from the noncaregivers 20 years prior, but grandparent caregivers had experienced poorer health than the noncaregivers and more stressful life events than the other caregivers. Caregiving appears to add new burdens to otherwise normal lives for spouse and adult-child caregivers, while being yet another aspect of a difficult life course for grandparent caregivers.

Grandparents and Education
Strom, Robert D. & Strom, Shirley K. Intergenerational learning: Grandparents in the schools. Educational Gerontology, 1995 Jun, v21 (n4):321-335.
Schools need grandparent volunteers. They can no longer rely solely on mothers. This article describes the essential contribution that grandparents can make to their grandchildren in education. Indeed, grandparents and retired persons have become the largest group of helpers for teachers in the classrooms The authors describe how elders and schools can work together in order improve children education; help grandparents themselves in their growth and provide support for parents in child-rearing.

Sandler, Allen G.; Warren, Sharon H.; Raver, Sharon A. Grandparents as a source of support for parents of children with disabilities: A brief report. Mental Retardation, 1995 Aug, v33 (n4):248-250.
This study explores the advantages of grandparents as a source of support for parents of children with disabilities. Indeed, there is a need for parents of children with disabilities to have a strong social support network. Grandparents can be a part of this network. The authors explored the relationship between the emotional adjustment of parents of children with disabilities and the parents perceived emotional and instrumental support of the grandparents. The authors found that fathers in particular were better adjusted when there was more grandparent support. The most frequent forms of support from Grandparents were baby-sitting and buying clothing.

Grandparenting Across the Globe
Strom, Robert; Strom, Shirley; Shen, Yuh-Ling; Li, Shing-Jing; Hwey-Lin, Sun. Grandparents in Taiwan: A three-generational study. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 1996, v42 (n1):1-19
The emergence of nontraditional values and lifestyles has left Chinese elders confused and disappointed. Indeed, rapid technological changes and a growing appreciation for privacy and independence values from the West has increased Intergenerational disagreement. The authors of this article point out that Chinese grandparents need education in order to improve intergenerational relations. For example, classes for grandparents could include learning from younger family members, acquiring new communication skills to facilitate dialogue and conflict resolution, understanding nontraditional goals of parents, etc. Classes, such as these should enrich relationships between the generations.

Grandparents as Parents
Jendrek, M. P., Grandparents who parent their grandchildren: Circumstances and decisions. The Gerontologist, 1994, v34 (n2), 206-216. This article investigates the circumstances which led grandmothers to provide regular care for their grandchildren. The author describes three major categories of grandmother roles.
1. Custodial Grandparents (adoption, full or temporary custody, or guardianship) assume the functions of a parent.
2. Daycare Grandparents provide children with regular daily care.
3. Living-With Grandparents assume a function which lies between the two previously described. They do not have legal custody of the grandchildren but they provide nearly all of the daily physical care for the children.
The author points out that the reasons most grandparents provide care is largely due to the fragmentation of the modern day family.

Article Index

Following is an index of recent articles and publications.

1. Intergenerational play therapy: The influence of grandparents in family
systems. Griff, Merle D. Child & Youth Services. 1999 Vol 20(1-2) 63-76

2. Grandparenting and its relationship to parenting. Drew, Linda M.; Richard, Mary H.; Smith, Peter K. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry. 1998 Jul Vol 3(3) 465-480

3. Custodial grandparenting: Stresses, coping skills, and relationships
with grandchildren.by Emick, Michelle A.; Hayslip, Bert, Jr.

4. Intergenerational support in families with disabilities: Grandparents'
perspectives.Schilmoeller, Gary L.; Baranowski, Marc D.
Families in Society. 1998 Sep-Oct Vol 79(5) 465-476

5. Education and grandparenting roles.
King, Valarie; Elder, Glen H., Jr.
Research on Aging. 1998 Jul Vol 20(4) 450-474

6. Custodial grandparenting and the impact of grandchildren with problems
on role satisfaction and role meaning.Hayslip, Bert, Jr.; Shore, Jerald; Henderson, Craig E.; Lambert, Paul L.Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences.1998 May Vol 53B(3) S164-S173

7. Popular images of grandparents: Examining young adults' views of their
closest grandparents. Boon, Susan D.; Brussoni, Mariana J.
Personal Relationships. 1998 Mar Vol 5(1) 105-119

8. Intergenerational perceptions of English speaking and Spanish speaking
Mexican-American grandparents. Strom, Robert D.; Buki, Lydia P.; Strom, Shirley K.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development. 1997 Vol 45(1) 1-21

9. Learning needs of African-American, Caucasian, and Hispanic
grandparents. Strom, Robert; Strom, Shirley; Fournet, Lee; Wang, Chih-Mei; et al
Journal of Instructional Psychology. 1997 Jun Vol 24(2) 119-134

10. Strengths and needs of working-class African-American and
Anglo-American grandparents. Watson, Jeffrey A.; Koblinsky, Sally A.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development. 1997 Vol 44(2) 149-165

11. Lifelong learning for grandparents: Cultural considerations in Taiwan
and the United States. Strom, Robert D.Journal of Family Studies. 1999 Oct Vol 5(2) 157-179

12. The impact of parental separation/divorce on grandparent-grandchild
relationships. By Drew, Linda A.; Smith, Peter K. International Journal of Aging & Human Development. 1999 Vol 48(3) 191-216

13. Perceived self-efficacy and grandparenting. King, Valarie; Elder, Glen H., Jr.
Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences.
1998 Sep Vol 53B(5) S249-S257

14. Trajectories of grandparents' perceived solidarity with adult
grandchildren: A growth curve analysis over 23 years. Silverstein, Merril; Long, Jeffrey D.
Journal of Marriage & the Family. 1998 Nov Vol 60(4) 912-923

15. The good, the bad, and the worrisome: Emotional complexities in
grandparents' experiences with individual grandchildren. Fingerman, Karen L. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies. 1998
Oct Vol 47(4) 403-414

16. The legacy of grandparenting: Childhood experiences with grandparents
and current involvement with grandchildren. King, Valarie; Elder, Glen H., Jr
Journal of Marriage & the Family. 1997 Nov Vol 59(4) 848-859

17. Grandparents of children with disabilities: A review. Hastings, Richard P. International Journal of Disability, Development & Education. 1997 Dec Vol
44(4) 329-340

18. A profile of grandparents raising grandchildren in the United States.
By Fuller-Thomson, Esme; Minkler, Meredith; Driver, Diane Gerontologist. 1997 Jun Vol 37(3) 406-411

19. Grandparents and children of divorce: Their contrasting perceptions and
desires for the postdivorce relationship. Schutter, Mark E.; Scherman, Avraham; Carroll, Robert S.

20. Demographic and clinical characteristics of emotionally disturbed
children being raised by grandparents. Ghuman, Harinder S.; Weist, Mark D.; Shafer, Micheal E. Psychiatric Services. 1999 Nov Vol 50(11) 1496-1498

21. The impact of acculturation in Mexican American families on the quality
of adult grandchild-grandparent relationships. Silverstein, Merril; Chen, Xuan
Journal of Marriage & the Family. 1999 Feb Vol 61(1) 188-198

22. Grandparents as a national asset: A brief note. Adkins, Vincent K.
Activities, Adaptation & Aging. 1999 Vol 24(1) 13-18

23. Grandparental impact in young adults' relationships with their closest
grandparents: The role of relationship strength and emotional closeness. Brussoni, Mariana J.; Boon, Susan D. International Journal of Aging & Human Development. 1998 Vol 46(4) 267-286

24. Grandparent involvement following divorce: A comparison in
single-mother and single-father families. Hilton, Jeanne M.; Macari, Daniel P.
Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. 1997 Vol 28(1-2) 203-224

25. Building a theory of grandparent development. Strom, Robert; Strom, Shirley
International Journal of Aging & Human Development. 1997 Vol 45(4) 255-286