ABSTRACT
To conceptualize how custodial grandmothers' positive and negative appraisals of their caregiving responsibilities impact their psychological well-being, parenting behavior, and the adjustment of their grandchildren, we present a model integrating the Family Stress Model (Conger, Reuter, & Conger, 2000) and the two-factor model of caregiving appraisals and adjustment (Lawton, Moss, Kleban, Glicksman, & Rovine, 1991). In addition, we draw on data from a sample of custodial grandmothers to examine the extent to which the proposed integrated model has empirical support. Study findings lend support to our integrated model, and suggest that how grandmothers appraise their caregiving situations influences their psychological well-being and, in turn, their parenting. Dysfunctional parenting was associated with greater grandchild total difficulties and prosocial behavior. Implications for practitioners are addressed.
