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.
Purpose
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.
Discussion
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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 10, 2013
Accepted:
April 28,
2013
Received in revised form:
April 20,
2013
Received:
January 3,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
