Psychological distress in grandmother kinship care providers: the role of resources, social support, and physical health.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate predictors of psychological distress in grandmother kinship care providers. More specifically, it was hypothesized that social support, family resources, and physical health would predict psychological distress in grandmothers raising grandchildren.


METHODS
One hundred and two grandmothers raising grandchildren in parent-absent homes completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, Short Health Form-36, Family Resource Scale, Family Support Scale, and a questionnaire requesting background and demographic data.


RESULTS
Results indicated that psychological distress was predicted by family resources, participants' physical health, and to a lesser extent, social support.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that family resources, social support, and physical health affected psychological distress in grandmothers raising grandchildren. Grandmothers who reported fewer resources, less social support, and poorer physical health tended to experience higher levels of psychological distress. This study suggests that greater attention be given to interventions aimed to decrease psychological distress and improve the financial resources and physical health of grandmothers raising grandchildren.
Kelley
S J
SJ
College of Health and Human Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303, USA.
Whitley
D
D
Sipe
T A
TA
Yorker
B C
BC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological