Grandchildren Caregiving and Mental Well-being: An Examination of the Joint Roles of Gender and Race/Ethnicity

• In Event: Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 4: Families and Aging

Abstract

Family caregivers provide most of the care to older adults. As the U.S. population continues to age, grandchildren caregivers are playing an increasingly important role. However, relevant research is limited and often focuses on adolescents co-residing with grandparents. Using data from 2020-2023 BRFSS, this study examines the characteristics and experiences of young adults caring for their grandparents. Findings show that these caregivers were less likely to identify as White, provided lower-intensity care, and reported more poor mental health days than children or spouse/partner caregivers. Results also reveal that net of demographic, socioeconomic, and caregiving factors, White grandchildren caregivers, women in particular, reported the highest levels of mental distress. Black women’s elevated distress relative to White women was largely explained by covariates. No gender differences were detected among Latine caregivers. These findings highlight distinct caregiving and mental health challenges experienced by grandchildren caregivers at the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity.

Authors

• Zhe (Meredith) Zhang, California State University, Los Angeles

• Qi Li, University of Nebraska-Lincoln