This study was concerned with determining whether those foster grandparents employed at Denton State School and seen as more or less successful in job performance could be differentiated on the basis of selected psychological and sociological characteristics. In summary, it may be said that the study was exploratory in terms of the population involved but borrowed its methods and variables for investigation from studies of similar purpose of groups participating in "helping relationships."

The AIDS pandemic has affected the lives of millions worldwide and has a particular devastating impact in Sub-Saharan Africa. Much is known about the effects of AIDS on children and on young adults but little attention is given to the plight of grandparents. This study focused on an increasing phenomenon in the black South African family and the increase of families headed by aged individuals who are often reliant on pension payouts for their livelihood. Against this background, this research explored the challenges facing a sample of ten black South African grandmothers between the ages of sixty-four and seventy-eight, living in Katlehong, west of Ekurhuleni in the outskirts of Johannesburg. These participants attended a granny-support group at Khanya Family Centre, a non-governmental organization. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted. The study focused exclusively on the participants’ challenges to cope, and their social support needs as caregivers. The findings of this study showed that elderly women caring for AIDS orphaned grandchildren faced substantial obstacles in meeting their caregiving responsibilities. Some of the challenges faced by these grandmothers as caregivers included lack of psychological support, emotional support and socio-economic support. They also experienced stressful lives, compounded by age-related ailments and conditions. Coping with the challenges of caring for the AIDS orphaned grandchildren as well as their own problems negatively impacted on their psychological, emotional and physiological well-being.

Juvenile delinquency is a social issue which has been shown to have a significant cost to society in a variety of ways which include community safety, the cost of arrest, charges, and court processes, as well as the damage done in families and to the youth through the label of juvenile delinquent or Person in Need of Supervision (PINs). One important area in treatment and discharge planning for youth designated as either juvenile delinquent or Persons in Need of Supervision is the inclusion of supports to help youth change the trajectory from these behaviors into more socially acceptable activities and actions. The research problem addressed in this study is that the supports utilized at this time are insufficient and ineffective, as evidenced by rates of recidivism. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the use of non-custodial grandparents in treatment and discharge planning as a support system is of value to the youth and their parents. Using a grounded theory methodology, professional staff from Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) programs, now known as Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO), which work with these youths and their families and was developed based on social learning theory, participated in interviews to obtain data regarding the use of non-custodial grandparents and whether they were found to be of value. The results of the study support the use of grandparents under specific conditions, such as when they have positive relationships with parents and when they are positive role models themselves. NVivo 11 software was used to assist in the process of analyzing the data collected from these professionals. The implications for social change remain that the process of assisting youth to make these changes could create safer communities with lower crime rates, and decreases in the costs associated with the legal process, and these savings can then be passed on to communities and to the taxpayer.

At a local middle school, twice as many students were being reared by their grandparents than in each of the other 3 schools in the study district. Most of these students were experiencing academic and social issues; increased understanding of the issue was needed to address these problems. Using a phenomenological approach, this project study explored the lived experiences of grandparents of skipped-generation households and school employees who interact daily with skipped-generation households. Epstein's theory of parental involvement undergirded this study, and semistructured interviews were used to gather data from 15 grandparents and 15 school employees. Interviews were transcribed, open coded, and themes were generated. Findings revealed that grandparents often did not understand the grandchildren's generation, 21st-century parenting skills, or how services from community agencies could make the rearing process easier. Also, school employees often did not understand the challenges faced by skipped-generation households, the importance of grandparent-friendly school environments, and the value of sharing internal information. Based on the findings, the Educators Impacting Skipped-Generation Household seminar was designed to inform school employees of strategies to assist grandparents in addressing their challenges, and create grandparent-friendly school environments. This study should improve the lives, relationships, and communication of members of skipped-generation households and school employees, while increasing the number of successful students and citizens who can break this parenting cycle.

The purpose of this study was to compare the parenting style used by grandparents in the first-time parenting of their children with the parenting style used by grandparents in the second-time parenting of their grandchildren. In addition, a comparison was made between first-time parenting and second-time parenting and the parenting style experienced by these grandparents as children in their family of origin.The Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren Questionnaire (GPGQ) was distributed to 505 grandparents raising grandchildren between birth and 12 years old in HARP Grandparenting Support Groups in six states. One hundred fortyfour responses were analyzed at the .05 level of significance measuring the multivariate difference between four parenting styles (authoritarian, permissive, rejecting/neglecting, and authoritative). Ten grandparents were interviewed by telephone.Results1. The multivariate difference between the parenting style used by grandparents in the first-time parenting of their own children with second-time parenting of grandchildren was significant. In parenting their own children, grandparents were more authoritarian, more rejective, and less authoritative than they were in parenting their grandchildren.2. The multivariate difference between the parenting style used by grandparents in the first-time parenting as compared with their memories of the parenting style used in their family of origin was significant. In parenting their own children grandparents were found to be less authoritarian, more permissive, less rejective, and more authoritative than their parents were.3. The multivariate difference between the parenting style used by the grandparents in the second-time parenting of their grandchildren and the parenting style experienced as children in their family of origin was significant. When parenting their grandchildren grandparents were found to be less authoritarian, more permissive, less rejective and more authoritative than their parents were.4. Grandparents reported raising their grandchildren differently from their children (54.1%), the same (33.3%), and 12.5% did not answer the question.5. Grandparents from telephone interviews reported some differences in second-time parenting from the first-time parenting due to available resources, legal arrangements, family issues, understanding of discipline, and the role differences. / Department of Elementary Education

The general aim of the study was to investigate how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the town of Odendaalsrus. From the literature review the researcher realised that a limited amount of research has been done on Caucasian grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the suburban areas of South Africa. The literature however did confirm that the prevalence of the phenomenon of grandparents raising their grandchildren has increased significantly over the past few years. This led to the investigation into how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The researcher undertook a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study. The research was conducted in the rural town of Odendaalsrus. The participants consisted of ten Caucasian grandparents of whom four were male participants and six were female participants. Grandparents who formed part of the research sample were identified based on a set of criteria which was formulated by the researcher. After the participants had been identified, the purpose of the research was explained to them. Informed consent was obtained, where after grandparents shared their experience of their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren through an unstructured interview. The interviews were transcribed by the researcher. The transcriptions were reviewed by the researcher, after which themes were identified together with supporting evidence thereof. The results of the study confirmed that, although the phenomenon is increasing the cause thereof are a complex issue. The reasons why grandparents act as primary caregivers of their grandchildren are divergent and include reasons like the death of parents, incompetence of parents due to chronic illness such as HIV/ Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, teen pregnancies or parents who are just unable to look after their own children. The phenomenon of grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren has consequences for both the grandparents and grandchildren. Grandparents pursuing the primary caregiver role experience intense conflict between the traditional role of a grandparent and the role of substitute parent they are fulfilling now. Their role also includes the financial provider role, the mediator role and the disciplinary role. These roles all have an impact on the interpersonal relationships of these grandparents. Recommendations are made to professionals (social workers, therapists and counsellors) to equip them in assisting grandparents in their experience and to provide them with effective support and advice. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The general aim of the study was to investigate how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the town of Odendaalsrus. From the literature review the researcher realised that a limited amount of research has been done on Caucasian grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren in the suburban areas of South Africa. The literature however did confirm that the prevalence of the phenomenon of grandparents raising their grandchildren has increased significantly over the past few years. This led to the investigation into how grandparents experience their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The researcher undertook a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological study. The research was conducted in the rural town of Odendaalsrus. The participants consisted of ten Caucasian grandparents of whom four were male participants and six were female participants. Grandparents who formed part of the research sample were identified based on a set of criteria which was formulated by the researcher. After the participants had been identified, the purpose of the research was explained to them. Informed consent was obtained, where after grandparents shared their experience of their role as the primary caregivers of their grandchildren through an unstructured interview. The interviews were transcribed by the researcher. The transcriptions were reviewed by the researcher, after which themes were identified together with supporting evidence thereof. The results of the study confirmed that, although the phenomenon is increasing the cause thereof are a complex issue. The reasons why grandparents act as primary caregivers of their grandchildren are divergent and include reasons like the death of parents, incompetence of parents due to chronic illness such as HIV/ Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, teen pregnancies or parents who are just unable to look after their own children. The phenomenon of grandparents as primary caregivers of their grandchildren has consequences for both the grandparents and grandchildren. Grandparents pursuing the primary caregiver role experience intense conflict between the traditional role of a grandparent and the role of substitute parent they are fulfilling now. Their role also includes the financial provider role, the mediator role and the disciplinary role. These roles all have an impact on the interpersonal relationships of these grandparents. Recommendations are made to professionals (social workers, therapists and counsellors) to equip them in assisting grandparents in their experience and to provide them with effective support and advice. / Thesis (MA (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, May 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Bethany L. Letiecq. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-84).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.