Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine if raising grandchildren is related to diminished mental health well-being in custodial grandparents compared to contemporaries who are not raising grandchildren. Relevant studies were identified via comprehensive literature searches of electronic databases. We included six studies in the meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to calculate effect sizes. The results of the meta-analysis yielded a statistically significant, small-to-moderate summary effect size (ES) indicating caregiving grandparents generally experience a larger degree of adverse mental health outcomes than their non-parenting counterparts. While previous studies have produced conflicting results regarding the mental health outcomes experienced by custodial grandparents, the present meta-analysis findings provide another level of evidence that substantiates their emotional vulnerability. Recommendations for subsequent research are discussed.

摘要

该系统评价和荟萃分析的目的是确定抚养孙子女与未抚养孙子女的当代人相比是否与监护的祖父母心理健康状况下降有关。通过对电子数据库进行全面的文献检索，确定了相关研究。我们在荟萃分析中纳入了六项研究。使用随机效应模型来计算效应量。荟萃分析的结果产生了统计上显着，从小到中等的汇总效应量（ES），表明照料的祖父母通常比非父母的父母遭受更大程度的不利心理健康结果。尽管以前的研究在监护祖父​​母的心理健康结果方面产生了矛盾的结果，当前的荟萃分析发现提供了另一种证据，证实了他们的情感脆弱性。讨论了后续研究的建议。