CUSTODIAL GRANDPARENTS AND RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

这项建议是对PAR-02-049的回应，目的是通过开展研究，理清社会经济地位、社会和环境因素、健康行为以及种族和族裔对健康的影响，从而减少老年人和人口之间的健康差距。被美国人看管的祖父母的数量一直在稳步增加。由于照顾，许多祖父母照顾者承受着压力，社会和经济幸福感下降，身体健康下降。随着人们对这一领域的兴趣与日俱增，有关祖父母如何应对照顾孩子的压力的问题也越来越多。关于抚养孙子孙女的祖父母使用宗教和精神习俗的数据很少。初步结果表明，美国的监护祖父母非常虔诚和灵性，宗教信仰和灵性可以作为应对方式 祖父母是孙子孙女的主要照顾者的机制。认知和衰老领域的研究表明，积极参与社会活动的人的认知能力可能存在差异。初步结果表明，给予支持的老年非裔美国人在解决日常问题方面的能力更高。 这项研究的主要目的是考察许多受监护权的祖父母参与的社会活动的影响，其中包括宗教活动和围绕抚养孙子孙女的活动，作为对抗与照料相关的压力源的保护因素和增强他们认知能力的一种方法。虽然这项拟议的研究主要是为了评估监护祖父母、宗教/灵性和认知之间的压力源之间的关系，但它具有临床和政策意义。在临床上，拟议的研究结果可以帮助确定祖父母照顾者支持小组需要解决的主题，如解决问题的技能和应对技能。它还将帮助评估为他人提供护理所需的实用技能类型。在政策领域，目前的研究结果可以确定祖父母照料者关注的领域，例如为他们的孙子孙女获得医疗保健。 研究团队包括首席调查员和顾问。调查人员拥有与老年非裔美国人合作的先前经验、出版物和初步数据。

This proposal is in response to PAR-02-049 to reduce health disparities among older persons and populations by conducting research to disentangle the effects of socio-economic status, social and environmental factors, health behaviors, and race and ethnicity on health. There has been a steady increase in the number of Afi'ican American custodial grandparents. Many grandparent caregivers experience stress, decreased social and economic well-being and reduced physical health as a result of caregiving. As interest in this area grows, questions as to methods grandparents use to cope with the stress ofcaregiving increase. There is a paucity of data available on the use of religious and spiritual practices among grandparents who raise their grandchildren. Preliminary results suggest that Afi'ican American custodial grandparents are very religious and spiritual, and that religiosity and spirituality may serve as coping mechanisms for grandparents who are primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Research in the area of cognition and aging suggests that there may be differences in the cognitive abilities of those actively involved in social activities. Preliminary results suggest that older African Americans that gave support have higher levels of everyday problem solving abilities. The primary aim of this study is to examine the impact of the social activities many custodial grandparents engage in which include religious activities and activities surrounding raising their grandchildren as a protective factor against the stressors associated with caregiving and a method to enhance their cognitive abilities. While designed primarily to assess the relation between the stressors of custodial grandparenting, religion/spirituality and cognition, the proposed study has clinical and policy implications. Clinically, the results of the proposed study could help identify topics to be addressed in grandparent caregiver support groups, such as problem solving skills and coping skills. It will also aid in assessing the types of practical skills needed to provide care for other. In the realm of policy, the results of the current study could identify the areas of concern for grandparent caregivers, such as obtaining access to medical care for their grandchildren. The research team includes the principal investigator and the consultant. The investigators have prior experience, publications, and preliminary data on working with older African Americans.