Depression Among Rural Native American and European American Grandparents Rearing Their Grandchildren

Increasing numbers of grandparents are rearing their grandchildren because of their adult children's inability to parent. Researchers have begun to document the mental health outcomes of grandparent caregivers in general, yet none have examined the mental health of Native American and European American grandparent caregivers residing in rural communities. To shed light on this topic, the current study examined relationships between degree of rurality; economic, community, and social resources; grandparenting experiences; and depression among 55 rural Native American and European American custodial grandparents. Based on hierarchical regression analyses, the best predictors of depression were grand-parental stress, total time providing primary care to grandchildren, household income, and race. Grandparents experiencing more stress, less time in the role of primary grandparent caregiver, and lower household income reported more depressive symptoms. Moreover, Native American grandparent caregivers reported more depressive symptoms than did their European American counterparts. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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THE INFLUENCE OF CUSTODIAL STATUS ON MARITAL AFFECTUAL SOLIDARITY AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG GRANDPARENTS.

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3433 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S944-S945

Author(s):

Eunbea Kim ◽

Danielle K Nadorff ◽

Rachel Scott ◽

Ian T McKay

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Marital Relationship ◽

Well Being ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Custodial Grandparents ◽

Psychological Well Being ◽

Targeted Interventions

Abstract Increased life expectancy and the diversity of family structure have resulted in a substantial rise in the number of families with grandparents as the main caregivers (e.g. custodial grandparents). The structures of these families affect the well-being of all family members. After middle age, psychological well-being is associated with marital relationship quality, and raising one’s grandchildren is a known source of strain to relationships. The current study examined adults aged 40 and older (M age = 57.6 yr, 53% female) using a nationwide sample from MIDUS to assess the extent to which custodial grandparenting status influences marital affectual solidarity, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and perceived stress. Measures included the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Index, Spousal Affectual Solidarity, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. Marital affectual solidarity was significantly related to custodial status and psychological well-being, and there were significant differences in marital relationship quality and psychological well-being between custodial grandparents and non-custodial grandparents. However, custodial status failed to moderate the relation between marital affectual solidarity and mental health. Although other factors surrounding custodial grandparents likely affect their marital relationship and mental health, these results suggest that grandparents raising grandchildren are under particular strain in their marriages and are in need of targeted interventions to ameliorate stress and depressive symptoms. These findings will inform the need for more research and supportive educational programs on family relationships and the psychological health of custodial grandparents.

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Associations between Adolescents’ Prosocial Experiences and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/2s73n ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lauren Alvis ◽

Robyn Douglas ◽

Natalie Shook ◽

Benjamin Oosterhoff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Native American ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Stressful Events ◽

The Us ◽

Helping Others ◽

Interpersonal Needs ◽

Multiple Regression Models ◽

Relief Efforts

Natural disasters and times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are extremely stressful events, with mental health consequences. But, such events also provide opportunities for prosocial support between citizens, which may be related to mental health symptoms and interpersonal needs. We examined adolescents’ prosocial experiences as both actors and recipients during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed whether these experiences were associated with indicators of mental health. Adolescents (N = 437; 78% female) aged 13 to 20 years (Mage = 16.43, SD = 1.10; 63.6% White, 12.9% Hispanic/Latinx, 8.5% Asian, 4.2% Black, 2.8% Native American) were recruited across the US in early April of 2020. Participants reported on their COVID-19 prosocial experiences (helping others, receiving help) and mental health (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, burdensomeness, belongingness). Multiple regression models indicated greater engagement in COVID-19 prosocial behavior was associated with greater anxiety symptoms and greater burdensomeness. Receiving more COVID-19 help was associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher belongingness. Findings highlight the importance of furthering our understanding of the nuanced connections between prosocial experiences and adolescents' mental health to help inform post-pandemic recovery and relief efforts.

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The contribution of social support and social strain to depressive symptoms in African American, Native American, and European American women

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407511406895 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 28 (8) ◽

pp. 1104-1129 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Aurora M. Sherman ◽

Adrienne Skrzypek ◽

Ronny Bell ◽

Cathy Tatum ◽

Electra D. Paskett

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

African American ◽

Native American ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

European American ◽

American Women ◽

Social Strain ◽

European American Women

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Depressive Symptoms and Suicidality of Those Raised in Kincare: A Peer Comparison Study

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222820966245 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003022282096624

Author(s):

Danielle K. Nadorff ◽

Rachel K. Scott ◽

Theresa M. Fitchie

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Household Income ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Comparison Study ◽

Religious Activities ◽

Symptoms Of Depression ◽

Frequent Attendance ◽

Increased Risk

The rate at which children are raised in kincare has steadily been on the rise. Prior research indicates that this group of individuals are at an increased risk of mental health problems. The current study examined the suicidality and depressive symptoms of adults who were raised in kincare compared to those raised by their parents. There were a total of 1,486 participants, 171 of whom were adults raised in kincare, and 1,315 who were raised by one or both of their parents. Participants completed a measure of suicide risk and reported symptoms of depression and anhedonia.Those raised in kincare scored significantly higher on the measures of anhedonia and suicide risk. However, there were no differences in general depressive symptoms. Further analyses found that more frequent attendance of religious activities and higher levels of household income acted as protective factors. These findings suggest kincare is associated with adverse mental health outcomes.

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Self-reported depressive symptoms and parental stress in mothers and fathers who bring their infants to an infant mental health clinic

Nordic Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.3109/08039480903528138 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 64 (5) ◽

pp. 310-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pia Risholm Mothander ◽

Rigmor Grette Moe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Parental Stress ◽

Infant Mental Health ◽

Health Clinic ◽

Mental Health Clinic ◽

Mothers And Fathers

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The Moderation of Middle-Generation Support on the Relation of Stress and Depression in Coresident Grandparents

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 262-262

Author(s):

Melissa Barnett ◽

Loriena Yancura ◽

Danielle Nadorff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Vulnerable Population ◽

Household Type ◽

Grandparent Caregivers ◽

The Usa ◽

Buffering Hypothesis ◽

Middle Generation

Abstract Consistent with Cohen & Wills’ Buffering Hypothesis, social support has been found to moderate the relation between stress and depressive symptoms but has yet to be examined among coresident grandparents (CGPs), a population at risk of increased stress and depression. The current study sought to extend the model to this highly prevalent, vulnerable population. Participants were 180 grandparents across the USA living with their grandchildren. Measures included depression, stress, and satisfaction with support provided by the middle generation (MG) parent of the grandchild. After controlling for age, gender, income, and household type (skipped or multi-gen), MG support moderated the relation between perceived stress and depressive symptoms, accounting for 49% of variance. For CGPs least satisfied with support provided by the MG, the more stress, the higher their depressive symptoms. These findings indicate that improving relationships with grandchildren’s parents is an important avenue for interventions focused on grandparent caregivers’ mental health.

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MENTAL HEALTH OF GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN: UNDERSTANDING PREDICTORS OF GRANDPARENTS’ DEPRESSION

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S282-S282 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Youjung Lee ◽

Kyeonghee Jang

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Family Members ◽

Well Being ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ◽

Custodial Grandparents ◽

Familial Support

Abstract Grandparents raising grandchildren experience caregiving stress, negatively influencing their mental health. They experience limited social supports and suffer from a lack of respite care and community resources. The present study attempts to explore needs of grandparent-headed families and factors related to grandparents’ depression. In 2015-19, surveys with 92 custodial grandparents were conducted in the northeastern U.S. The respondents were primarily white (77%) and 62 years old on average (ranged from 44 through 84) at the time of the interviews. The depressive symptoms ranged from 1 through 45, with the score of 16+ indicating clinical depression (41%). Sixty-three percent of grandparents reported a household income below $40,000 and 40% of them rated their health as poor or fair. Ninety-five percent reported at least one or more concerns in raising their grandchild (i.e., financial concerns, legal issues, and physical health). A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the contributions of age, ethnicity, duration of care, factors related to multigenerational caregiving, social support from family members, social support from friends, and social support from significant others in accounting for grandparents’ depressive symptoms. The model explained 29% of variance in the outcome (R2=.290; adjusted R2=.231). Among the predictors, only one factor was significant: social support from family members (beta=-.352, p=.006). Grandparents with increased social support from family members have lower rates of depression. This finding reinforces the importance of familial support for grandparents raising grandchildren, and recommends the development of family-centered programs to offer support for custodial grandparents to promote caregivers’ well-being.

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Coping Style as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Deliberate Self-Harm

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000083 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 272-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Allison S. Christian ◽

Kristen M. McCabe

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Self Report ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Deliberate Self Harm ◽

Self Blame ◽

Self Harm ◽

The Relationship

Background: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) occurs with high frequency among clinical and nonclinical youth populations. Although depression has been consistently linked with the behavior, not all depressed individuals engage in DSH. Aims: The current study examined maladaptive coping strategies (i.e., self-blame, distancing, and self-isolation) as mediators between depression and DSH among undergraduate students. Methods: 202 students from undergraduate psychology courses at a private university in Southern California (77.7% women) completed anonymous self-report measures. Results: A hierarchical regression model found no differences in DSH history across demographic variables. Among coping variables, self-isolation alone was significantly related to DSH. A full meditational model was supported: Depressive symptoms were significantly related to DSH, but adding self-isolation to the model rendered the relationship nonsignificant. Limitations: The cross-sectional study design prevents determination of whether a casual relation exists between self-isolation and DSH, and obscures the direction of that relationship. Conclusions: Results suggest targeting self-isolation as a means of DSH prevention and intervention among nonclinical, youth populations.

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