title: Longitudinal analysis of resourcefulness, family strain, and depressive symptoms in grandmother caregivers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Grandmothers living with grandchildren face stressors that may increase depressive symptoms, but cognitive-behavioral strategies, such as resourcefulness, may reduce the effects of stressors on mental health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This analysis examined the contemporaneous and longitudinal relationships among intra-family strain, resourcefulness, and depressive symptoms in 240 grandmothers, classified by caregiving status to grandchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grandmothers raising grandchildren, grandmothers living in multigenerational homes, and non-caregivers to grandchildren reported on intra-family strain, resourcefulness, and depressive symptoms using mailed questionnaires at three time points over 5 years. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the mediating effects of resourcefulness and the relationships between variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grandmother caregiver status had significant effects on depressive symptoms and intra-family strain but not on resourcefulness. At all waves, higher resourcefulness was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, which reduced appraisals of intra-family strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions focused on strengthening resourcefulness could reduce depressive symptoms over time.
authors.affiliation: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. cmm4@cwru.edu
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Musil
authors.forename: Alexandra B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jeanblanc
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burant
authors.forename: Jaclene A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zauszniewski
authors.forename: Camille B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Warner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009820:Ohio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Caregivers; Depressive symptoms; Grandmothers; Resourcefulness; Strain