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Contemporary Topic—Custodial Grandparents
Typically, parents are excited about the idea of their children growing up and having children of their own. They dream of being somewhat of an advisor to their children, playing and loving their grandchildren and just being an overall support when needed. Most parents of adult children long to become grandparents; but what happens when they are not afforded this wonderful opportunity, as instead they become the primary caregiver for their grandchildren? This is also known as custodial grandparents. For this week’s contemporary topic in social psychology, we will look deeper into this phenomenon to better understand its impact in the lives of those experiencing this particular household type. Globally, the number of families with a primary grandparent caregiver continues to increase (Xu et al., 2022). It is one of the fastest growing family types in the United States (Keller et al., 2023).
Research has found an array of reasons for grandparents having to provide care for their grandchildren. Some of these reasons include death of biological parent, parent’s incarceration, parental drug use, abuse & neglect, mental illness, etc. (Grünwald et al., 2022; Keller et al., 2023). In understanding the impact this has on the custodial grandparents, research has unfolded several recurring themes around the sometimes described burden of being the primary caregiver for grandchildren. Socioeconomic concerns, increased stress, limited resources and lack of support are among the themes mentioned (Grünwald et al., 2022; Martin et al., 2021; Mendoza et al., 2020). However, interestingly enough, one research study found that although grandparents admitted the increased amount of stress they experienced as a result of having the responsibility of raising their grandchildren was sometimes difficult, most grandparents admitted to being quite satisfied overall with their lives. Studies have also suggested that married grandparents experienced more resilience than single grandparents (Mendoza, 2020). For the impact this has on the grandchildren, there were concerns with findings that showed poor educational outcomes, increased depression, and anxiety symptoms, as well as experiencing more sibling relationship related stress than grandparent relationship stress (Keller et al., 2023; Xu et al., 2022; Wu et al., 2021).
Several limitations were identified to strengthen the knowledge base for this topic. One such limitation was the reported need for more longitudinal study to broaden our knowledge on long term impact on well being for grandparents and grandchildren relationship (Wu et al., 2022). Another limitation was the need for more risk mitigation studies to identify the resources and intervention to bring about better long-term outcomes (Mendoza et al., 2020). A third limitation involved studies being cross-sectional which does not allow for inferences about causality (Keller et al., 2023; Wu et al., 2021).
Although this is a growing phenomenon, it was not God’s design for this to happen this way. Psalm 78: 5-6 (New International Version, 1978/2011) says, “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.” This verse reminds us that as grandparents provide guidance to their children, when those children have children they are to teach them. This is not the case in the lives of so many custodial grandparents. Unfortunately, until creation is restored fully back to Christ, this will continue to be an ongoing saga.
