%0 Thesis %D 2006 %T Bridging the Gaps: The effects of level and duration of care, grandchild characteristics and parental involvement on depressive symptoms among grandparents raising grandchildren %A Lindsey A Baker %K Adult children %K Health Conditions and Status %X Using the Health and Retirement Study, this research examines well-being among grandparents raising grandchildren during middle to late life, specifically looking at depressive symptoms. For the first time, waves 2000 and 2002 of the HRS not only allow researchers to identify grandparents raising grandchildren in the dataset, but also provide information on the grandchild(ren) being raised and the adult child (of the grandparent) who is the parent of those children. A series of logistic regressions are run to determine the impact of several factors on depression among the study respondents. Study results indicate that while grandparents raising grandchildren do exhibit higher levels of depression when compared with grandparents providing both moderate and low levels of care to grandchildren, this is explained by the increased risk of depression grandparents raising grandchildren face due to their demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status. However, grandparents who began raising a grandchild between 2000 and 2002 were significantly more likely to become depressed than grandparents who were not raising a grandchild at either wave. Finally, grandparents raising at least one grandson have higher levels of depression than grandparents who are raising only granddaughters. However, this is explained by differences in demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status and health status which place the groups of grandparents raising only granddaughters at increased risk of depression. These findings suggest that grandparents raising grandchildren, particularly those who have recently begun raising a grandchild, are in need of services that can help them deal with the care of that grandchild. These services include not only support groups, which deal directly with the high levels of depression seen in this group, but also programs that help grandparents obtain adequate housing and maintain financial stability, which may help to indirectly improve the psychological well-being of grandparents raising grandchildren. %I University of Massachusetts, Boston %8 2006 %G eng %4 Depressive Symptoms %$ 17810 %! Bridging the Gaps: The effects of level and duration of care, grandchild characteristics and parental involvement on depressive symptoms among grandparents raising grandchildren