Although prior studies reveal that custodial grandmothers (CGM) and grandchildren (CGC) face high risk for psychological difficulties, virtually no rigorous studies of psychosocial interventions based on solid conceptual frameworks have been conducted with these vulnerable families. In view of preliminary findings that disrupted parenting mediates the relationship between CGM's psychological distress in the caregiver role and CGC's emotional and behavioral problems, this project involves a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the comparative feasibility and efficacy of two evidenced-based psychoeducational interventions widely used with other caregiver populations. Grandmothers (N = 504) of CGC (age 5 - 12) will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Behavioral Parent Training (BPT;derived from Project KEEP for foster parents;Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT;derived from Coping with Caregiving for caregivers of frail elders);Minimal Support Condition (to control for non-specific treatment factors). The proposed universal interventions include prevention and remediation objectives and involve a group format approach with mental health professionals and grandparent peers serving as co-leaders. The RCT will occur in multiple locations across the US to ensure that findings generalize beyond a single area and that equal numbers of Black (n = 168), Hispanic (n = 168), and White (n = 168) families participate. Prior to the RCT, focus groups will be held separately with CGMs of each race (n = 10 apiece) and experienced practitioners (n = 10) with the aim of assessing the perceived importance and acceptability of recruitment methods, treatment goals, and procedures, including possible differences by race/ethnicity. Multiple-informant and multiple-method assessments during the RCT at pretest, posttest and 6, 12, 18, and 24 month follow-ups will include indicators of CGM psychological distress (anxiety, depression);CGC adjustment (internalizing and externalizing problems);and disrupted parenting (use of ineffective discipline and low nurturance). Based on the conceptual framework of the prominent Family Stress Model, multi-group structural equation modeling analyses will be used to achieve four aims: (a) To compare the short and long-term effectiveness of CBT and BPT;(b) to examine longitudinally the dynamic linkages between CGM parenting practices, CGM'psychological distress, and CGC adjustment as modified by BPT and CBT;(c) to determine if key moderating variables (race/ethnicity, CGC, initial psychological difficulties in CGC and CGM influence RCT outcomes;and (d) to examine key factors related to acceptability and adherence to the proposed interventions. The findings will inform future clinical practice with custodial grandfamilies by identifying which of the proposed interventions are most effective and most acceptable among specific sub-groups (e.g., race/ethnicity;initial risk) and by unraveling the specific antecedent-consequent relations among CGM distress, dysfunctional parenting, and CGC adjustment.
There is growing evidence that many custodial grandchildren are at risk for psychological difficulties due to neglect and abuse by birth parents, limited parenting abilities of their custodial grandparents, and limited access to needed services due to poverty and cultural influences. Thus, this application is consistent with PA- 07-392 -Reducing Health Disparities Among Minority and Underserved Children given the intent to examine interventions designed to (a) reduce risk factors and exposures that lead to development of one or more poor health outcomes;(b) target both preventive care and remediation;and (c) incorporate both social (parenting practices) and cultural (race/ethnicity) as mediating factors believed to influence child health disparities and outcomes. This application is also consistent with the NIH belief that """"""""development of interventions based on well-defined underlying mechanisms is critical to advancing health promotion and diseases prevention.""""""""
| Smith, Gregory C; Hayslip, Bert; Hancock, Gregory R et al. (2018) A randomized clinical trial of interventions for improving well-being in custodial grandfamilies. J Fam Psychol 32:816-827 |
| Smith, Gregory C; Hayslip Jr, Bert; Hancock, Gregory R et al. (2018) The Family Stress Model as it Applies to Custodial Grandfamilies: A Cross Validation. J Child Fam Stud 27:505-521 |
| Hayslip Jr, Bert; Smith, Gregory C; Montoro-Rodriguez, Julian et al. (2017) The Utility of the Family Empowerment Scale With Custodial Grandmothers. J Appl Gerontol 36:320-350 |
| Merchant, Will; Smith, Gregory; Hayslip Jr, Bert (2017) Using the CES-D with custodial grandmothers: cross-validation and convergent validity. J Ment Health Aging (Lond) 1:1-9 |
| Smith, Gregory C; Strieder, Frederick; Greenberg, Patty et al. (2016) Patterns of Enrollment and Engagement of Custodial Grandmothers in a Randomized Clinical Trial of Psychoeducational Interventions. Fam Relat 65:369-386 |
| Hayslip Jr, Bert; Montoro-Rodriguez, Julian; Smith, Gregory C et al. (2015) Group Leaders' Perceptions of Interventions with Grandparent Caregivers: Content and Process. Grandfamilies 2:32-65 |
| Smith, Gregory C; Merchant, William; Hayslip Jr, Bert et al. (2015) Measuring the Parenting Practices of Custodial Grandmothers. J Child Fam Stud 24:3676-3689 |
