Abstract
In the United States, grandparents raise 2.6 million children in parent-absent homes (Generations United, 2022). Grandparents serving as surrogate parents for their grandchildren can take a toll on grandparents’ lives, physically and emotionally (Whitley & Fuller-Thompson, 2017). These research findings have underscored the need for effective interventions to enhance the health of custodial grandparents. One particular intervention program was designed to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of minority grandparents raising their grandchildren, and subsequent studies demonstrated this program’s effectiveness in improving grandparent health. However, what is not known are the effects over time of this intervention on the well-being of grandparents. Therefore, in minority grandparents raising their grandchildren who completed the one-year intervention between 2014 to 2019, the aims of this qualitative study are to a) explore the perceived, long-term benefits of having participated in the one-year intervention, b) explore which of the four main intervention components was most impactful to their lives and the lives of their grandchildren, and c) explore other factors that influence the resiliency of grandparents raising their grandchildren.
This study will be guided by the theoretical model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 1996) to understand how the stressors placed on the family system might influence the well-being of grandmothers raising grandchildren, either positively (resiliency) or negatively (adversity). We anticipate 200 grandparents will be contacted, and 20 will be required to achieve data saturation. The study will be conducted in person or virtually, based on grandparent preference, after consent is obtained. Once data saturation is achieved, the study will end. The PI will record and transcribe all interviews. Data will be coded and analyzed using NVivo. The transcribed data will be analyzed using a descriptive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six phases of qualitative analysis. Participants will be asked to provide feedback on the developed key themes, serving as member checking. Although findings will be limited to a single setting and will not be generalizable, we hope that study results will help to inform the model’s future design and serve as a model for other researchers seeking to improve the health equity of minority grandparents raising grandchildren.
Notes
References:
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https:// doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Drentea, P., Pavela, G., Tian, L., & Locher, J. L. (2024). Grandparenting and Physical Activity. Journal of Aging and Health, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643241273197
Generations United. (2022). Reinforcing a strong foundation: Equitable supports for basic needs of grandfamilies: The 2021 State of Grandfamilies in America annual report. Retrieved March 11, 2022 https://www.gu.org/resources/state-of-grandfa milies-report-2021
McCubbin, H. I., Thompson, A. I., & McCubbin, M. A. (1996). Family Assessment: Resiliency, Coping and Adaptation: Inventories for Research and Practice. University of Wisconsin Publishers.
Whitley, D. M & Fuller-Thomson, E. (2017). African American solo grandparents raising grandchildren: A representative profile of their health status. Journal of Community Health, 42, 312-323
Whitley, D. M., Fuller-Thomson, E., & Brennenstuhl, S. (2015). Health characteristics of solo grandparent caregivers and single parents: A comparative profile using the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance survey. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research. doi: 10.1155/2015/630717
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Alpha
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Interprofessional, Interdisciplinary, Public and Community Health, Grandfamilies and Kinship Care, Well-being, Minority Grandparents, BIPOC
Recommended Citation
Lawrence, Patricia R.; Marcus, Jessica; Stoudmire, Tonya; and Spratling, Regena, "Perceived Long-Term Benefits of an Intervention to Improve Health Equity of Minority Grandparents" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 70.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/posters_2025/70
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-08
Funder(s)
Sigma Theta Tau International. Epsilon Alpha Chapter
Perceived Long-Term Benefits of an Intervention to Improve Health Equity of Minority Grandparents
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
In the United States, grandparents raise 2.6 million children in parent-absent homes (Generations United, 2022). Grandparents serving as surrogate parents for their grandchildren can take a toll on grandparents’ lives, physically and emotionally (Whitley & Fuller-Thompson, 2017). These research findings have underscored the need for effective interventions to enhance the health of custodial grandparents. One particular intervention program was designed to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of minority grandparents raising their grandchildren, and subsequent studies demonstrated this program’s effectiveness in improving grandparent health. However, what is not known are the effects over time of this intervention on the well-being of grandparents. Therefore, in minority grandparents raising their grandchildren who completed the one-year intervention between 2014 to 2019, the aims of this qualitative study are to a) explore the perceived, long-term benefits of having participated in the one-year intervention, b) explore which of the four main intervention components was most impactful to their lives and the lives of their grandchildren, and c) explore other factors that influence the resiliency of grandparents raising their grandchildren.
This study will be guided by the theoretical model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 1996) to understand how the stressors placed on the family system might influence the well-being of grandmothers raising grandchildren, either positively (resiliency) or negatively (adversity). We anticipate 200 grandparents will be contacted, and 20 will be required to achieve data saturation. The study will be conducted in person or virtually, based on grandparent preference, after consent is obtained. Once data saturation is achieved, the study will end. The PI will record and transcribe all interviews. Data will be coded and analyzed using NVivo. The transcribed data will be analyzed using a descriptive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six phases of qualitative analysis. Participants will be asked to provide feedback on the developed key themes, serving as member checking. Although findings will be limited to a single setting and will not be generalizable, we hope that study results will help to inform the model’s future design and serve as a model for other researchers seeking to improve the health equity of minority grandparents raising grandchildren.
Description
In the U.S., 2.6 million children are raised by grandparents in parent-absent homes, often straining grandparents' physical and mental health. A one-year intervention improved minority grandparents' well-being but its long-term effects remain unknown. This study will explore perceived benefits, impactful intervention components, and factors influencing resiliency, using a family stress model. Findings aim to inform future intervention designs to enhance health equity for custodial grandparents.