Grandmothers residing with grandchildren: Social determinants of health, health behaviors, and health outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between social determinants of health, health behaviors, and physical and mental health among African American and Hispanic caregiving grandmothers. We use cross-sectional secondary data from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study, originally designed to understand the health of individual households based on residential context. In a multivariate regression model, discrimination, parental stress, and physical health problems were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in caregiving grandmothers. Considering the multiple sources of stress experienced by this grandmother sample, researchers should develop and strengthen contextually relevant interventions for improving the health of caregiving grandmothers. Healthcare providers must be equipped with skills to address caregiving grandmothers’ unique needs related to stress. Finally, policy makers should promote the development of legislation that can positively influence caregiving grandmothers and their families. Expanding the lens through which caregiving grandmothers living in minoritized communities are viewed can catalyze meaningful change.

Keywords:

• Grandmothers
• mental health
• social determinants of health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the Institute of Social Research at the University of Michigan at https://www.isr.umich.edu/ccahs/index.html.

Additional information

Funding

Support for this research was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.