Abstract:

In the United States, the number of children whose grandparents are their custodial parent has increased remarkably since the late 1970’s. In the early 1970’s, only 3% of children in American lived-in household where a grandparent was the custodial parent. By 2011, 7% of children lived in households where a grandparent was the main custodial parent. In more recent years, grandparents raising grandchildren have received considerable attention. Consequently, this phenomenon of grandparents being the custodial parent for their grandchildren in the U. S. has emerged as significant variable in child and adolescent rearing. Several parental variables including drug abuse, incarceration, HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, and financial difficulties have contributed to the previous observation. That phenomenon has occurred more frequently among African American families. However, children and adolescents who have been reared with grandparents serving as the custodial parent, many positive outcomes have been observed. Also, children and adolescents that have been reared with grandparents serving as the custodial parent have experienced more stability, safety, continuation of the cultural identity connection, and community ties were enabled. Moreover, children and adolescents with grandparents serving as the custodial parent appear to have fewer behavioral problems than those who are placed in foster care with non-relatives. Additionally, existing research literature suggests that children and adolescents who are reared by custodial grandparents appear to experience better behavioral and mental health outcomes as compared to those who do not. Therefore, this phenomenon appears to have a far more positive impact on among African American children and adolescents in general relative to other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Primary research questions generated for the current study are:
1) To what degree does significant differences exist that are attributable to parental custodial status and mental health status among African American children and adolescents?
2) To what degree does significant differences exist that are attributable to parental custodial status, mental health status, and educational performance among African American children and adolescents?
3) To what extent does significant differences exist that are attributable to parental custodial status, mental health status, educational performance, and psycho-social determinants, among African American children and adolescents?

A multivariate correlational research design was developed for the current study. Secondary samples of data from African American households (N = 887) were generated from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey published by the National Center of Health Statistics. Sub-samples were developed creating strata for the Northeast, Far West, Midwest, and the Southern regions of the U. S. Samples of data were analyzed using the forward stepwise Binomial Logistic Regression Analysis method. Major findings indicated that there were differences attributable to parental custodial status among African American children and adolescents.

Keywords:

Education, multi-generational, mental health, social behavior, custodial parent.