Differences in family functioning in grandparent and parent-headed households in a clinical sample of drug-using African American adolescents.
Grandparents play a critical role in African American families, providing support and important leadership functions. Little is known, however, about family functioning in grandparent-headed households with a drug-using adolescent. Such knowledge is particularly salient for researchers and therapists who work with drug-using adolescents and their families. Using a clinical sample of convenience, analyses were conducted to identify similarities and differences in adolescent substance use and behavior problems, family relationships, and family social ecology relationships between African American grandparent-headed (n=12) and parent-headed (n=54) households. Results indicated that adolescents from the 2 household types reported similar levels of problem behaviors, but that grandparents reported less delinquency with peers than did parents. Primary caregivers in grandparent-headed households reported less monitoring and supervision of peers and less within-family conflict. Implications for treatment are discussed.
Robbins
Michael S
MS
Center for Family Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Studies, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA. mrobbins@med.miami.edu
Briones
Ervin
E
Schwartz
Seth J
SJ
Dillon
Frank R
FR
Mitrani
Victoria B
VB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology