In many Western societies grandparents take on the role of occasional or short-term care providers of their grandchildren. However, recent years have witnessed a significant increase, both in Australia and overseas, in the number of children being raised by their grandparents due to the inability of the children’s parents to effectively meet their parenting responsibilities.This study is an interpretive inquiry that seeks to understand the meanings grandparents attach to their experiences of the grandparent-as-parent role, rather than the traditional grandparent role. The study also investigates how assuming the non-traditional grandparent role has influenced the identity of grandparent caregivers. A narrative inquiry approach was employed to ‘hear the voices’ of 34 grandparents who were raising their grandchildren in NSW, Australia. In-depth interviews were conducted with each of the participants and their narratives were subsequently analysed through the lens of identity theory.Findings from the study reveal that grandparents experience a significant degree of roleidentity conflict in their grandparent-as-parent role. The loss of their traditional grandparent role, together with the shift in commitment to the grandparent-as-parent role, has resulted in a ‘space of difference’ between the ‘ideal’ and the ‘real’ of being a grandparent. This ‘space of difference’ is made up of a series of binary experiences described as myth/reality, visible/invisible, deserving/undeserving, voice/silenced, included/excluded, which appear to have consequentially impacted grandparents’ selfesteem and self-verification processes. The study posits that grandparents lack adequate support, or doulia, resulting in a prevailing belief that their commitment to the grandparentas- parent role is not publicly acknowledged nor afforded the justice it deserves.The study concludes that both policy and practice in NSW have failed to recognise and address the complexity of experience, or the ‘space of difference’ occupied by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, and provides a number of recommendations in response to the grandparent experiences narrated through this research.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of attendance at a senior center on the well being and quality of life of grandparents that were rearing grandchildren. Using convenience sampling, grandparents (N=130) who were rearing grandchildren were given a self administered demographic data survey along with an attendance at a senior center questionnaire, the Quality of Life Scale, the Well Being Scale by Liang, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Caregiver Burden Scale, and the Role Satisfaction Scale. An initial MANOVA (F 7, 69 = 2.72, p < .01) suggesting that senior center attendance affect the measures as a set was conducted and then a series of one way ANOVAs were carried out to test the hypothesis that attending a senior center has an effect on the dependent variables: well being, quality of life, role satisfaction, caregiver burden, loneliness, current health, and heath one year ago. Subsequently, a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to find out whether frequency and quality of attendance of a senior center predicted quality of life, caregiver burden, well being, loneliness, and role satisfaction, controlling for the demographic data. The results of the MANOVA showed that the dependent variables: quality of life, caregiver burden, well being and role satisfaction were impacted positively by the attendance of a senior center. The results of the regression analyses showed that for each of the major dependent variables, after controlling for the demographic data, the quality and frequency of involvement at the senior center did not have a uniquely significant role in predicting the dependent variables. The results of this study shows that further research need to be conducted to answer other questions regarding grandparents who are rearing minor grandchildren and the affects that senior centers may have in assisting in the management of this new task that grandparents have found themselves dealing with.

It is assumed that a parenting role by a grandparent or grandparents has been tied to life events, Such as divorce or the death of their own children. The parent was no longer in the picture and the grandparent stepped in to care for the children. Although this pattern has by no means disappeared, society is now seeing more and more cases of dysfunctional parents who are unable or unwilling to raise their own children who are therefore being raised by the grandparent. relative caregivers such as grandparents.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / According to the most recent US Census statistics, there is an estimated 2.5 million grandparents raising their grandchildren in the United States without the children's parents present in the household. In Indianapolis, the figure constitutes nearly 9,000 households. There are a disproportionately higher number of African American grandparents that are primary caregivers to their grandchildren. However, 6 percent of this population is grandfathers who are raising their grandchildren, while some 40 percent of the grandmothers are married. The research is a compilation of interviews with ten African American grandfathers living in Indianapolis who are raising their grandchildren in their households without the presence of the grandchildren’s parents. These men were either married or widowed and have either formal custody of their grandchildren through adoption, foster care/kinship care, court-appointed guardianship or informal living arrangements. The objective of the research was to capture the lived experiences of these grandfathers who were fulfilling their caregiving roles. Thus, the research methodology used was reflective of the phenomenological paradigm of inquiry.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Grandparent-headed families are diverse in nature and represent a rapidly growing family type. While challenges facing grandparent caregivers are well documented, less is known about the well-being of their grandchildren, with many early studies relying on small samples of convenience. This study used an existing large national database, the National Survey of America's Families (NSAF), to compare differences in well-being of both children and grandparent caregivers across the independent variables of family type, ethnicity, gender, and age. Findings suggested better mental health and less parental aggravation for caregivers in traditional two parent intact families as compared to grandparents co-parenting in a multi-generation home, skipped generation grandparents (raising their grandchild with no parent present) or single parents. Skipped generation grandparents in particular reported most caregiver aggravation. Child physical health was reported to be worse by skipped generation grandparent caregivers. Behavior problems were reported to be worse for children in grandparent headed households than those in traditional families, particularly for teenagers raised in skipped generation households by their grandmothers. Specific results, limitations and future directions for research on grandparent-headed households were discussed.

本論文之研究目的係為探究隔代教養祖父母承擔教養孫子女責任的原因，瞭解他們所執行的照顧項目與其扮演親職角色之經驗感受，並試圖發現可能會影響隔代教養祖父母之經驗感受的個人生命脈絡，促使社會工作者對隔代教養祖父母之生命經驗有更深入的瞭解，以作為未來擬定處置計畫及支持性福利措施或方案的參考。 本研究使用質性取向的研究方法，以半結構式的深度訪談進行資料蒐集，有效受訪對象共計15人，6名男性、9名女性，年齡介於51歲至81歲之間，平均照顧之（外）孫子女1至2人，照顧期程不等，從2年至15年均有，主要研究結果分述如下： 一、本研究之受訪者之所以承擔教養孫子女的責任，係：（1）為極小化家庭 整體照顧成本、換取自身所需酬賞而表現出之代間交換行為；（2）基於對其子女與孫子女的情感而承擔照顧之責；（3）因社會規範與文化價值所囿而將「照顧」視為家人或女性的本分。 二、隔代教養祖父母所執行之親職照顧項目大致包含：（1）照顧；（2）教與管；以及（3）情感性協助與保護等三項，且「隔代」與「身處中高齡」之特殊背景使這群承接（外）孫子女照顧之責的（外）祖父母需面對一些承擔照顧責任時的挑戰，包括：（1）需處理與中生代相關之事宜；（2）再學習照顧孫子女之相關技能：；（3）留在或重返勞動市場工作；以及（4）為死亡預做準備。 三、隔代教養祖父母在扮演其親職角色時，其經驗感受可分別由客觀與主觀負荷兩者進行呈現。首先，隔代教養（外）祖父母之客觀負荷包含：（1）照顧對祖父母之生活產生影響；（2）需因應（外）孫子女之挑戰性行為；（3）處理自身角色之轉變。再者，隔代教養祖父母之主觀負荷則包含：（1）喜悅、欣慰、陪伴等正面感受以及（2）無力、擔憂、憤怒等負面感受。 四、從受訪者之言詞分析可得，影響隔代教養祖父母之經驗感受的個人人生脈絡包括隔代教養家庭之家庭資源與家庭認知，其中，家庭資源係有：（1）照顧者個人資源與力量；（2）受照顧者之自我照顧能力、健康狀況與人數；（3）家庭互動狀況；（4）家庭整體資源與社會支持網絡；而家庭認知則指家庭集體或個別成員對隔代教養事件所賦予之意義。 根據本研究結果，研究者進一步討論發現：（1）隔代教養是私人問題和公共議題交互作用下之現象；（2）隔代教養祖父母係一群擁有獨特生命經驗的群體，其經驗感受異於傳統祖父母，且需從其整體生命歷程中之個人生命事件與所處人生脈絡來理解，但我國相較於美國係較缺乏以隔代教養祖父母為主要服務對象的組織或單位；（3）可支持隔代教養祖父母之社會資源應具備可近性、可負擔性與可接受性，並依結果分析提出對社工實務、政策與未來研究之建議。

ABSTRACT A crucial issue facing our educational system is the changing family structure, particularly the increase in the number of children being raised by their grandparents. Many of these children live in a situation that places them at risk academically. Thus, it is vital that the educational system consider identifying the special needs of these children to provide supports. This study aimed to identify support services that middle school and high school grandparents perceived they needed from school systems and school personnel to ensure the educational success of their grandchildren. I developed a survey based on concerns and issues that were cited in the literature to determine grandparent's awareness of the services provided by the public schools, the extent to which their student utilized them, and other services that the grandparents themselves needed. Participants were a convenience sample of 56 mostly African American grandparents from four high schools and five middle schools in a southern urban school district who were primarily responsible for raising their grandchildren. These grandparents contacted me to participate after receiving a recruitment flier that was sent home with each student at the participating schools. Over half of the grandchildren had received a failing grade on their report card in at least one of the core subjects the previous year. About one fourth of these children also had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The study found statistically significant differences in the awareness of middle school and high grandparents regarding whether their grandchild utilized the academic services of tutoring, pull-out classes, and study skills classes. According to the grandparents, high school students used the services less than middle school students. In addition, of the 29 students with discipline issues, more middle school than high school grandparents indicated that their grandchild “received help for behavior problems.” Both groups of grandparents requested support groups for their grandchildren to address behavior and provide assistance with school work. Middle school grandparents also requested support groups for teasing/ bullying. Both groups of grandparents requested that a Grandparent Education Council be formed, information on community resources, and training for teachers regarding the issues of both grandparents and grandchildren.

M.Ed. / Few prospective parents expect to have a child with a disability and, even if they are aware of the possibility, very few voice their fears or are prepared for the actual experience. Usually parents have to provide care for the children. However, in a Primary School, in Osizweni, the Newcastle area of Kwa-Zulu Natal, learners come from families in which grandparents are primary the only adult caretakers of young children and also those with disabilities. In 2002 the school started to admit learners with diverse needs, including severe behavioural problems, hearing and visual impairments, severe physical, intellectual and learning disabilities. These learners had not been admitted anywhere else previously, because of their disability. In Osizweni, as indicated above, most learners are no longer in the care of their biological parents but are being looked after by their grandparents. There are a number of reasons for this, some specific to the area and situation, others related to a general transference of responsibility common to the wider context of the extended family in African society. This study is aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of grandparents with grandchildren with disabilities and the inclusion of these learners in a school for the first time. This exploration and description could lead to better understanding of the grandparents and how to assist them to support their grandchildren at school The research was conducted in a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive manner. In-depth interviews were the main source of data collection with observation and field notes as added tools. Discursive, constructionist orientated interviews were used. Four grandparents of learners with disability were interviewed as a target population in the study. The recorded data from interviews and observation provided the information needed. The interviews were conducted in Zulu and the transcribed interviews translated in English. The transcripts were read and the themes observed. Themes and categories were identified, analyzed and discussed according to the data, which were collected and discussed to explore grandparents’ experiences of inclusive education. In analysing the data, seven themes were identified in describing the experiences of grandparents with grandchildren with disabilities and the inclusion of these learners in a school for the first time. These themes were use as a basis to better understanding of the grandparents and how to assist them to support their grandchildren at school. From the interviews it became evident that most grandparents experienced stress and uncertainty when attempting to secure help or specialty services related to the children’s disability and needs. They reported to be low users of existing services but in high need of services and benefits. This indicates discrimination, access, and difficulty in finding placement, knowledge and other barriers with which support services may be of assistance in resolving the problem. The participating grandparents also expressed financial needs and are being haunted by their own health issues and do not have finances for their needs and the needs of their grandchildren. The study also found that grandparents experience many losses as well as deep grief that comes with them and the grandchild being the constant reminder of the situation. Furthermore, the research findings exposed the fact that grandparents regard themselves as parents and have the great support from the community. In the final chapter, recommendations, as well as suggestions for supporting grandparents and the community at large were made. / Mrs. H. Krige

A contemporaneidade tem como uma de suas principais marcas o excesso de individualismo ou narcisismo. Além disso, traz consigo uma série de transformações nos níveis subjetivo, intersubjetivo, familiar e social, dentre os quais destacamos aqueles sentidos na esfera familiar. O atual avanço tecnocientífico é apontado como um fator de peso nessas transformações, desde o surgimento da televisão até o das mais recentes tecnologias da informação e da comunicação (TICs). Apesar de haver divergências na literatura, frequentemente a população idosa é apontada como prejudicada por esse avanço tecnológico e considerada excluída digital. Ao mesmo tempo, vivenciamos um aumento dessa população e da expectativa de vida, o que levou também a mudanças na função dos avós na família, numa diversidade de possibilidades. Diferentemente da psicanálise tradicional, que teve como foco as dinâmicas envolvidas entre pais e filhos, a psicanálise vincular, referencial aqui elegido, enfatiza aquelas implicadas na dimensão do entre, o que significa uma compreensão sobre a família mais ampla. Investigar se e como a TIC poderia estar influindo sobre o vínculo avós-netos na atualidade, partindo do pressuposto da transmissão psíquica geracional, foi o objetivo desta pesquisa. Para tanto, foi adotado o método clínico-qualitativo e realizadas entrevistas semidirigidas com quatro duplas de avós idosos e netos adolescentes que apresentassem algum contato virtual entre si, totalizando oito participantes; a forma de análise dos dados seguiu o método de estudo de caso. Os resultados encontrados mostraram que cada dupla fazia um determinado uso da TIC entre si, ainda que tenha havido aspectos em comum entre todas ou algumas delas. A inversão geracional e certa desconfiança na comunicação virtual foram duas constantes; bem como a constatação de que o uso que era feito da tecnologia se relacionava com determinadas características da dinâmica de funcionamento psíquico dos sujeitos, do vínculo entre eles ou mesmo da família. Em três duplas observou-se a geração de um efeito paradoxal causado pela interferência da tecnologia, qual seja, o fato de ela propiciar a aproximação entre as partes quando estavam distantes, mas seu afastamento quando estavam juntas, devido ao uso excessivo dela feito pelos netos, que então passavam a dispensar menos atenção aos respectivos avós. Nas duplas entrevistadas, a presença da tecnologia não pareceu comprometer o papel dos avós, uma vez que eles tinham uma posição bastante importante para os seus netos. Para alguns destes últimos, o papel dos avós ainda era visto relativamente a um lugar de saber e de superioridade. Em suma, pôde-se perceber que, em algumas situações, a TIC facilitava o vínculo das duplas e em outras o subtraía, e em outras ainda ela não passava de um mero complemento. Mesmo assim, observou-se que sua influência não tinha mais poder do que o vínculo em si mesmo, este, sim, fator suficiente e determinante para ditar a qualidade da relação da dupla, pelo menos no que se referiu a avós e netos / Contemporaneity has as one of its main brands the excess of individualism or narcissism. In addition, it brought several transformations on the subjective, intersubjective, family and social levels, among which we highlight those taking place in the family sphere. The current techno-scientific progress is key in these transformations, from the beginning of television to the recent information and communication technologies (ICTs). Although literature may differ, often the elderly population is seen as precluded by this technological advance and considered digitally excluded. On the same token, we experienced an increase in this population and a rise in life expectancy, leading to changes in the role of grandparents in the family, in a diversity of possibilities. Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, which focused on the dynamics between parents and children, the links psychoanalysis, referential chosen for this work, emphasizes the dynamics involved in the \"between\" dimension, implying a broader understanding about the family. The objective of this research was to investigate whether and how ICT could be influencing the link between grandparents and grandchildren in the current generation, based on the theory of the generational psychic transmission. For this purpose, the clinical-qualitative method was applied and semi-structured interviews were done with eight participants, consisting of four pairs of elderly grandparents and their adolescent grandchildren, both having virtual contact between them; the form of data analysis followed the case study method. The results showed that each pair made a particular use of ICT among themselves, although there have been aspects in common among all or some of them. The inversion of generations and a lack of trust in virtual communication were two constants, as well as the finding that the use of technology was related to certain characteristics of the subjects\' psychic dynamics, the relation between themselves or even the family. In three of the pairs a \"paradoxical effect\" was observed, being caused by the interference of technology, as it would bring the parties closer when they were distant, but set them apart when they were together, due to the excessive use of it by the grandchildren, who then paid less attention to their grandparents. For the interviewed pairs, the presence of technology did not seem to jeopardize the role of grandparents, since they held a very important position for their grandchildren. For some of the latter, the role of the grandparents was still seen as one of knowledge and superiority. In short, it was possible to perceive that in some situations ICT facilitated the bonding process between the pairs, while for others it would prejudice it, and even for some it was only a mere complement. Even so, it was noted that their influence had no more power than the bond in itself, factor sufficient and determinant to dictate the quality of the relationship between the pairs, at least when it comes to grandparents and grandchildren