title: Predicting Zambian Grandmothers' Sensitivity Toward Their Grandchildren.
abstract: Whereas child care by grandmothers is widespread in the African cultural context, few studies have examined predictors of the quality of grandmaternal care in Africa. In the current study, we collected observational data to investigate predictors of the quality of grandmother-grandchild interactions in Zambia. Data were collected from 46 grandmothers and their 12 to 27-month-old infant grandchildren. The results revealed that grandmothers with fewer children and those who enjoyed the grandparenting tasks more were more sensitive in their interactions with their grandchildren. Unexpectedly, parenting beliefs favoring sensitive parenting predicted lower observed sensitivity in grandmothers. Further, grandmothers with a more individualistic cultural orientation were more intrusive toward their grandchildren. The results underscore the importance of time and emotional resources as predictors of sensitive parenting among grandmothers.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sichimba
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Haatembo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mooya
authors.affiliation: 2 Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mesman
mesh_terms: D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D000066502:Grandparents / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D015024:Zambia
keywords: Zambia; child care; culture; grandchildren; grandparents; sensitivity