Grandparents’ Adjustment to Grandchildren With Disabilities

Scherman, Avraham; Gardner, J. Emmett; Brown, Phil E.; Schutter, Mark E.

doi:10.1080/0360127950210306

Cited by 37 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Initially, grandparents appear to have similar emotional reactions to parents like anger, confusion, and sadness related to the birth of a child with a disability (Scherman et al, 1995). Frequently, grandparents find themselves in a situation where they lack both the knowledge and skills to provide adequate care for the disabled child.…”

Section: Grandparenthoodmentioning

confidence: 97%

Grandparents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Perceptions, Beliefs, and Involvement in Their Care

Katz

Kessel²

2002

Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing

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This exploratory study evaluated the perceptions and beliefs of grandparents regarding their grandchild with a developmental disability and their involvement in his/her care and the impact of the child's disability on their lives and on their relationship between them. The sample included 16 grandparents of children with a severe developmental disability ranging in age from 5-10 who were studying in a special school. Data was collected by using semistructured interviews in the home of the grandparents. The findings indicated that grandparents' involvement and satisfaction with their role were a function of their attitudes towards disabilities in children in general and their relationship with their adult children, as well as their own life experiences. Their involvement with their grandchild with developmental disability served to strengthen the relationship between the grandparents. An important implication of the study is that professionals should plan interventions to support and encourage grandparents to be more involved in the care of the child with developmental disability.

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Section: Grandparenthoodmentioning

confidence: 97%

Grandparents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Perceptions, Beliefs, and Involvement in Their Care

Katz

Kessel²

2002

Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing

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“…Panamanian grandmothers find it extremely sufficient to share their feelings and concerns with immediate family members, unlike grandparents of children with disabilities in the United States who identify the need for mental health/professional support that comes from outside the family (Scherman et al, 1995;Vadasy, 1987). This contrast provides an interesting observation.…”

Section: Grandmothers' Emotional Adjustmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No particular group of beliefs reflects an obvious majority, and the nature of their comments are less intense than some of the more pointed role adjustment issues encountered by American grandparents. For example, American grandparents of children with disabilities strongly feel they need to take on specific roles, such as babysitting, providing unconditional love and encouragement, and being available to help their children meet the medical and special education needs of their grandchild with a disability (Gardner et al, 1994;Scherman et al, 1995). Therefore, it was particularly interesting, and likewise unpredictable, that the most frequent single response that Panamanian Grandmothers would like to be asked to do as a grandparent of a child with disabilities, yielded a response of "nothing.…”

Section: Grandmothers' Emotional Adjustmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effect of having a grandchild with a disability also influence, grandmothers' emotional adjustment and relationships with their grandchild's parents, their other children, grandchildren, and extended family members (George, 1988;Green, 2001;Sandler et al, 1995;Scherman et al, 1995). While Scherman et al (1998) described the degree to which Panamanian grandmothers actively participated in their disabled grandchildren's lives, they did not address grandmothers' emotional adjustment and relationships with other family members.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across a number of reports, grandparents have been shown to exhibit some understanding and knowledge concerning the medical components of their grandchild's disability. They also express a number of desires that range from providing financial help and care for their grandchild, providing direct support (e.g., babysitting, taking their grandchild to medical or school appointments), attending to their grandchild's emotional needs, and performing the usual ceremonial roles of attending birthdays and school events (Gardner, Scherman, Mobley, Brown, & Schutter, 1994;George, 1988;Sandler, 1998;Sandler, Warren, & Raver, 1995;Scherman, Gardner, Brown, & Schutter, 1995;Vadasy, 1987). At the same time, grandparents, as do other members of their family system, experience varying degrees of grief, loss, uncertainty, and need for emotional support as they adjust to having a direct relative with a disability (Berger & Fowlkes, 1980;Gardner et al, 1994;George, 1988;Green, 2001;Vadasy, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Panamanian Grandmothers' Family Relationships and Adjustment to Having a Grandchild with a Disability

Gardner

Scherman

Efthimiadis

et al. 2004

Int J Aging Hum Dev

Self Cite

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The purpose of this article was to explore the family relationships and role adjustment of grandmothers in the Republic of Panama who have a grandchild with special needs. Thirty Panamanian grandmothers of children with a disability were interviewed using a standardized format and non-directive probing. Categories of analysis were established only after the data was fully collected and reviewed. The results indicate that for most Panamanian grandmothers, their changes in family relationships are not dramatic when they have a grandchild with a disability; however, 25% clearly report a deteriorated relationship with their son-in-laws. They view their relationship with their grandchild with a disability to be one that provides a mixture of affection, love, acceptance and patience. In the area of role adjustment, they see a need to become more involved in areas that include assisting their grandchildren and/or her family with care-giving and household responsibilities, economic and medical support, or in areas related to school/academic, spiritual or recreational activities. With respect to emotional adjustment, Panamanian grandmothers of children with disabilities distinguish themselves from grandmothers in the United States, by experiencing reduced emotional stress and dwelling less on personal loss, grief, or role stigma. The implications are that there appear to be universal beliefs and adjustment factors that Panamanian grandmothers of grandchildren with disabilities experience. However, culture appears to have a genuine influence that results in subtle but unique differences from their U.S. counterparts.

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Supporting Parents, Siblings, and Grandparents of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Fiske

Pepa

Harris

2014

Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Fourth Edition

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Autism spectrum disorders have a profound impact not only on the development of the individual with the diagnosis, but on the functioning of the family as a whole. Parents, siblings, and grandparents of individuals with autism face a range of unique challenges and experiences that can affect their psychological adjustment. Social support, available coping strategies, and family‐focused treatment approaches will all impact the psychological functioning of family members, and should be addressed in treatment to maximize outcome for the individual with autism.

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Grandparents’ Adjustment to Grandchildren With Disabilities

Cited by 37 publications

References 11 publications

Grandparents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Perceptions, Beliefs, and Involvement in Their Care

Grandparents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Perceptions, Beliefs, and Involvement in Their Care

Panamanian Grandmothers' Family Relationships and Adjustment to Having a Grandchild with a Disability

Supporting Parents, Siblings, and Grandparents of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

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