Research Article: Socioemotional and Behavioral Problems of Grandchildren Raised by Grandparents: The Role of Grandparent–Grandchild Relational Closeness and Conflict
Abstract:
This study examined the associations of grandparent–grandchild relational closeness and conflict with grandchildren’s socioemotional and behavioral problems, including emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and abnormal prosocial behaviors. We analyzed primary cross-sectional survey data collected from custodial grandparents in the United States using logistic regression models. The results indicated that grandparent–grandchild relational closeness was significantly associated with lower odds of custodial grandchildren having emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems, and abnormal prosocial behaviors, whereas grandparent–grandchild relational conflict was significantly associated with higher odds of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and abnormal prosocial behaviors. Implications for increasing grandparent–grandchild relational closeness and decreasing relational conflicts among grandparent-headed families are discussed, which might improve grandchildren’s socioemotional and behavioral well-being.
Introduction:
In the United States, nearly six million children live with their grandparents for various reasons, such as child maltreatment, parental substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration, and military deployment [1,2]. Due to COVID-19, an increased number of children lost their parents, and grandparents stepped in to care for them [3]. In the United States, the formation of grandfamilies is influenced by macrosystems (e.g., welfare policies, cultural traditions) and microsystems (e.g., birth parents’ divorce,…
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