Abstract
Purpose: This study addressed well-being of grandmothers raising grandchildren in coparenting and custodial households in a sample of African American, Latino, and White grandmothers. Design and Methods: A sample of 1,058 grandmothers was recruited through the schools and media. Grandmothers raising or helping to raise school-aged grandchildren in Los Angeles were interviewed, and analyses were conducted within ethnic groups. Results: African American grandmothers experienced equal well-being in coparenting and custodial families; however, if the stresses related to the parents' problems were removed by statistical control, they favored the custodial arrangement. Latino grandmothers had greater well-being in coparenting families, reflecting a tradition of intergenerational living. White custodial grandmothers experienced somewhat higher levels of affect (positive and negative) but showed no difference in other types of well-being. Implications: The cultural lens through which grandparenthood is viewed has a marked impact on the adaptation to custodial or coparenting family structures.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 676-689 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Gerontologist |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- African American
- Coparenting
- Custodial
- Latino
- White
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gerontology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology