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Learning Objective 1: 1. describe effects of a grandchild's death on the health and functioning of the grandparents within 6 months after the child’s death.
Learning Objective 2: 2. describe implications of the study's findings for clinical practice and future research.
Methods: 24 grandparents who experienced death of a grandchild <6 years of age were recruited through death records from the Florida Office of Vital Statistics. Mean age of the 17 grandmothers and 7 grandfathers was 57.5 years (SD=10.75). Most (58%) were white, 30% Black, 8% Hispanic, 4% Asian; 67% were living with a partner. Mean age of the deceased grandchild was 17.2 months (SD=25.3). Most grandchildren were male (71%). Based on family systems theory, grandparents completed the Beck Depression Inventory II, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Hogan Grief Reaction Checklist, Impact of Events Scale-Revised (post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), Dyadic Adjustment Scale at 5-26 weeks after the grandchild's death.
Preliminary Results: For most grandparents (15, 62.5%), the grandchild's death was unexpected. Grandparents' mean self-rated health at the time of interview was 7.2 (SD=2.62) on a 10-point scale. Of the 13 grandparents employed prior to the grandchild's death, 8 took time off work. Ten had been ill and 3 were hospitalized since the death. Older grandparents reported less depression and PTSD and greater demonstrations of affection with their partners. Greater grief and PTSD interfered with quality and quantity of their work; were related to more time thinking about the grandchild and lower self-rated health. Grandparents who reported greater agreement with their partners experienced less PTSD avoidance symptoms. Social support was related to less grief and PTSD symptoms.
Conclusions: Death of a young grandchild had a negative effect on grandparents' work, grief, and mental health. Greater age, relationship with a partner and social support were related to better mental health within the first 6 months after the child's death.
Funding: NIGMS SCORE grant #S06 GM008205.
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