Personal Mastery and Psychological Well-Being Among Young Grandmothers

Abstract

This study examined the association between relationship quality, personal mastery, and psychological well-being among 83 young Black and White American grandmothers in families with teenage mothers. Interviews were conducted during the early stages of adaptation to grandparenthood due to the birth of a baby to a teenage daughter. Findings indicated that the effects of the mother–daughter relationship are mediated through mastery. When grandmothers feel a sense of mastery, the conflict with the teenage mother is not as detrimental to their psychological health. Findings are discussed in the context of developing supportive services for grandmothers in families with teenage mothers.

Keywords:

• Black American and White American grandmothers
• young grandmothers
• early transition to grandparenthood
• grandmother–adolescent mother relationship
• relational conflict
• depressive symptoms

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Grant R01 MH47182, as part of the African American Mental Health Research Program, James S. Jackson, Center PI.