Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Georita Frierson

Abstract

Parenthood responsibilities are changing in the United States. The overall research problem for this study was that grandparents are parenting their grandchildren when their adult children are incarcerated for alcohol abuse or use. The importance of this problem is that as adults age, they are taking on the responsibilities of being parents rather than grandparents. In this new role, grandparents may not have the coping strategies or social support to ensure that they have life satisfaction during their senior years. The purpose of this study was to assess the independent variables, age and perceived stress (low, medium, and high), as viewed by grandparents when they provide parental care to their grandchildren. The cognitive theory of stress was the theoretical foundation for understanding how grandparents’ age, perceived stress, and ability to recognize coping strategies and social support can help them care for their grandchildren. The key research questions addressed the age and perceived stress of grandparents in relation to coping strategies and social support as they raise their grandchildren. The research was quantitative, with a one-time correlational observational design using a nonprobability convenience sampling method. The findings were that regardless of age, when grandparents experienced perceived stress at any level, they were able to exhibit active coping strategies and only needed access to informal social support when their perceived stress was at a high level. This study may contribute to social change by giving insight into how grandparents’ age and stress levels relate to coping strategies and social support when they assume parental care of their grandchildren, thereby promoting a stable environment.

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