Preventive health behaviors among grandmothers raising grandchildren.

TitlePreventive health behaviors among grandmothers raising grandchildren.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsBaker, LA, Silverstein, M
JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Volume63
Issue5
PaginationS304-11
Date Published2008 Sep
ISSN Number1079-5014
Call Numbernewpubs20081014_JoG_S304.pdf
KeywordsAged, Breast Self-Examination, Caregivers, Female, Health Behavior, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Influenza, Human, Intergenerational Relations, Logistic Models, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Papanicolaou Test, Preventive Health Services, United States, Vaccination, Vaginal Smears
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We examined differential preventive health behavior among grandmothers who recently began raising a grandchild, grandmothers raising a grandchild for at least 2 years, and grandmothers not raising a grandchild.

METHODS: Data came from the 2000, 2002, and 2004 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. We ran multivariate logistic regression models to assess receipt of influenza vaccination, cholesterol screening, monthly breast self-exam, mammography, and Papanicolaou (Pap) tests among grandmothers aged 50 to 75.

RESULTS: Grandmothers who recently began raising a grandchild were significantly less likely to report influenza vaccination and cholesterol screening than grandmothers not raising grandchildren, even after we controlled for increased emotional and financial strains within the household. We also observed this association for Pap tests, although this finding was only marginally significant. Grandmothers who had been raising a grandchild for at least 2 years were significantly more likely to report influenza vaccination and monthly breast self-exam than grandmothers not raising grandchildren.

DISCUSSION: The enhancement of preventive behavior seen among long-term grandparent caregivers does not fully offset the suppression of preventive behavior during the transition into care; support groups should target a range of interventions toward the promotion of healthy behavior among new grandparent caregivers.

Notes

ProCite field 6 : The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences

DOI10.1093/geronb/63.5.s304
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18818451?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Health Physical/Caregiving/Grandparents/Grandchildren/Intergenerational Relations

Endnote ID

19410

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Citation Key7248
PubMed ID18818451
PubMed Central IDPMC2633920
Grant ListT32 AG000037 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32 AG000037-30 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32-AG00037 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States