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Psychological difficulties among custodial grandchildren

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  • Smith, Gregory C.
  • Hayslip, Bert
  • Webster, Britney A.

Abstract

Although custodial grandchildren (CG) are likely to have more emotional and behavioral problems than children in general, only a handful of studies involving nationally representative data have investigated this important public health issue. The present study is unique in examining informant reports of psychological difficulties and prosocial behavior, obtained via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) parent version, regarding two samples (n = 509 and n = 323) of CG between ages 4–12 and three samples of age peers from the 2004 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) residing in homes with either no birth parent (n = 184), one parent (n = 1618), or both parents (n = 3752). A MANCOVA encompassing the main effects of sample type, child gender, and informant's race across six SDQ subscales (with informant age and education, as well as child age controlled) showed all three main effects to be statistically significant (p < .001). Between subjects effects for sample type were significant for all six subscales (p < .001), with a general pattern found whereby the two CG samples had higher difficulty and lower prosocial scores than all three NHIS samples, with corresponding effect sizes falling in the moderate to very large range. Tests of between subjects effects for child gender showed, that regardless of sample type, males typically had higher difficulty scores and lower prosocial scores than those for females. Tests of between subjects effects by informant's race showed only sporadic differences that were independent of sample type. Comparisons of the SDQ banded scores suggested that CG have considerably different cutoff points than do children in other family structures to indicate a likely diagnosis of a serious psychological disorder. We conclude that primary school aged CG are at an especially high risk for both internalizing and externalizing difficulties regardless of children's gender or informant's race.

Suggested Citation

  • Smith, Gregory C. & Hayslip, Bert & Webster, Britney A., 2019. "Psychological difficulties among custodial grandchildren," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:104:y:2019:i:c:25
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104390
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Washington, Tyreasa & Wrenn, Ashley & Kaye, Hannah & Priester, Mary Ann & Colombo, Gia & Carter, Kevin & Shadreck, Itumeleng & Hargett, Brenden A. & Williams, Jeffrey A. & Coakley, Tanya, 2018. "Psychosocial factors and behavioral health outcomes among children in Foster and Kinship care: A systematic review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 118-133.
    2. Karen Conway & Minghua Li, 2012. "Family structure and child outcomes: a high definition, wide angle “snapshot”," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 345-374, September.
    3. Kelley, Susan J. & Whitley, Deborah M. & Campos, Peter E., 2011. "Behavior problems in children raised by grandmothers: The role of caregiver distress, family resources, and the home environment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2138-2145.
    4. Goulette, Natalie W. & Evans, Sara Z. & King, Dione, 2016. "Exploring the behavior of juveniles and young adults raised by custodial grandmothers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 349-356.
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    4. Smith, Gregory C. & Hayslip Jr, Bert, 2023. "Grandmother and grandchild reports of psychological difficulties among custodial Grandchildren: Whose view matters and why is it important?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).

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