On-line Assessment of Grandmother Experience in Raising Grandchildren

The purpose of this study was to compare the parenting styles of custodial, coresident, and nonresident grandmothers and their perceptions of satisfaction, success, and teaching with their grandparent caregiving role. The 124 subjects were custodial grandmothers (n = 79), coresident grandmothers (n = 21), and nonresident grandmothers (n = 23). Participants completed an online survey that combined quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Scores on grandparent satisfaction, success, and teaching were derived from the Grandparent Skills and Needs Inventory (GSNI). The findings on the demographic data suggested that the custodial grandmother group was significantly lower than coresident and nonresident groups on the GSNI dimensions "satisfied" and "successful." The qualitative data presented both positive and negative perceptions of grandmothers raising their grandchildren.