Depression Among Rural Native American and European American Grandparents Rearing Their Grandchildren

1. DEPRESSION AMONG RURAL
NATIVE AMERICAN AND
EUROPEAN AMERICAN
GRANDPARENTS REARING THEIR
GRANDCHILDREN
REINA CONNOLLY

2. CENTRAL RESEARCH QUESTION
The central research question regards the depression rates of
Native American and European American grandparents who are
the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The reason why the
grandparents may be primary caregivers of their grandchildren is
due to their children’s involvement of drugs and alcohol,
unwanted pregnancies, or other family crises.

3. SOCIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE RESEARCH
PROJECT
The sociological importance of the research project can be seen through a macro and micro sociological lens.
Macro Theoretical Framework
 Rurality Among Native and European American grandparents
 Economic issues and situations among Native and European American grandparents
 Community Resources and accessibility among Native and European American grandparents
 Depression Rates Among Native and European American Grandparents
Micro Theoretical Framework
 Collection of experiences from grandparents who take care of their grandchildren in relation to the grandparents’
depression
Example(s) of Experiences – Stress related experiences and length of time the grandparents have taken care of their
grandchildren

4. HYPOTHESES
The hypothesis in this specific research article was the
custodial Native American and European American
grandparents would have more depressive symptoms if
they lived in rural areas versus less rural areas (for
instance country areas versus cities)

5. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
Sampling
 Statewide Volunteer Survey
 Purposive Sample – Purposive sampling is an example of non-probability sampling in which elements within the
study is extracted in order to serve as a purpose to the sample.
 Snowball Sampling Technique - A technique in research that is used to locate members of a population when they
are difficult to find. It is a non-probability sampling technique. Once some members are located through
snowballing, these individuals make the population grow by locating other individuals in their same situations or in
the same contexts of their lives.
Data Collection
 Quantitative Data – To look at a set of data and intepert and collect in a quantitative (number) form.
 Surveys For This Study Was Incorporated In
 Brochures
 Bimonthly Newsletters
 E-mail listserver
 Child Care Programs
 Senior Citizen Groups
 Facilitators of Grandparent Support Groups Across the State
 Statewide Country Extension Agents
 AARP

6. CONCEPTUALIZATION OF RESEARCH CONCEPTS
AND VARIABLES
How The Study Defined
Rates of Depression – The specific tool that was used to study depression rates was called the “Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression
Scale.” Factors that are specifically studied with this tool are the contributing factors of depression such as “depressed mood, feelings of
helplessness and hopelessness, psychomotor retardation, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbance.” (pg. 341)
Custodial Grandparents – Custodial Grandparents were defined as custodial grandparents who were Native American and European
American. These grandparents were studied in the state of Montana and examined rural grandparents versus non-rural grandparents who had
custody over their grandchildren who did not want children in the foster care system or legal system.
Demographic Characteristics – Demographic characteristics was measured by specific codes such as the “respondent’s age, race/ethnicity,
martial status, income and educational levels, number of grandchildren under care, and the total length of time in which the grandparents took
care of their grandchildren.” (pg. 341)
Rurality: Rurality was defined in Montana since it is a rural state that consists of a small population in towns.
Community Resourced Needs: This specific area was studied based on resources grandparents are need of to raise their grandchildren.
Examples include child care assistance and health care providers.
Perceived Social Support: The tool that was used to measure this specific area was the Support subcale of the Parenting Ladder. Questions
were asked and answered in a rating system (0 to 6, 0 (low) to 6 (high)) regarding access to social support systems such as friends, family, and
parents.
Grandparental Distress: The tool that was used to study Grandparental Distress is the Parental Stress Scale. Grandparental stress was one of
the factors which determined depression due to social and economic straints from taking care of grandchildren.

7. WHO WAS STUDIED? HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE
STUDIED?
• The individuals that were studied was grandparents who were taking care of their
grandchildren in Montana. The number of people that were studied was 63
grandparents out of 83 grandparents who were asked to participate in the study. For
this study, “the specific response rate was 76%” after the custodial grandparents filled
out all of the survey materials. (pg. 341)

8. SELECTIVITY OF CASES
“In 2002, a statewide volunteer survey was conducted.” A purposive sample in
conjunction with the snowballing sampling technique was used in the selectivity of these
cases. A purposive sample is defined as an example of non-probability sampling in which
elements within the study is extracted in order to serve as a purpose to the sample. The
snowball sampling technique is a technique in research that is used to locate members of
a population when they are difficult to find. It is a non-probability sampling technique.
Once some members are located through snowballing, these individuals make the
population grow by locating other individuals in their same situations or in the same
contexts of their lives. This is how a group of custodial grandparents were chosen in
Montana.

9. PRIMARY RESULTS
 Grandparents had “low educational attainment” (pg. 343)
 35% of custodial grandparents obtained a high school diploma or attended some high school
 40% of custodial grandparents were “employed outside the home.” (pg. 343)
 Custodial grandparents had an average of 2 children to take care of under the time span of 9 years
 Native American custodial grandparents had lower SES then their European American grandparents
 “Native American caregivers had overall more depressive symptoms then their European American
grandparents.”
 Variables including social support and depression rates were proportionally related to each other with
Native American depression rates. In other words, the less social support Native Americans have the
more likely they will become depressed.
 Variables including length of caregiving time and depression rates among European American
grandparents were directly proportional.
 The hypothesis was not supported as the study states that rurality did not show disparities of depression
rates between Native American and European American custodial grandparents.

10. CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
 This study inspires other sociologists to study marginalized cultures such as Native Americans and their societal
structure especially in relation to mental health.
 This study also contributes to why “Native American caregivers are complex and must be understood through a
historical and cultural lens.” (pg. 350)
 This study also sets the stage for other research explorations that can contribute to sociological knowledge including
- How meth-related problems in rural areas contribute to family crisis, especially when it comes to the children of
grandparents and how it affects the overall family structure.
- Specific legislation that can be beneficial for grandparents who are custodians of their grandchildren such as access
to free health care and social support systems