Project Healthy Grandparents
Scholarly Publications
Kelley, S. J., & Whitley, D. (2003). Psychological distress and physical health problems in grandparents raising grandchildren: Development of an empirically based intervention model. In B. Hayslip & J. H. Patrick (Eds.), Working with custodial grandparents (pp. 127-144). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Abstract
A body of literature has emerged in the past decade that addresses the growing phenomenon of grandparents raising grandchildren. Much of what has been published relates to trends and demographics, reasons for becoming custodial grandparents, and the impact of this role on caregivers. This chapter describes findings from an ongoing research and community service project with grandparents raising grandchildren in the Atlanta area. The development of an empirically based, interdisciplinary intervention for grandparents raising grandchildren is described. The purpose of the chapter is to (1) compare the physical and psychological status of African-American grandparents who are raising grandchildren to national norms, (2) determine predictors of psychological distress among African-American grandparents who are raising grandchildren, and (3) describe an intervention to improve the well-being of grandparents raising grandchildren.