Observed parenting aspects of child compliance in custodial grandfamilies

• Published date: 01 April 2022
• Author: Laura Collier Portner,Patricia L. Kaminski,Bert Hayslip,Gregory C. Smith,Justin M. Litvin
• Date: 01 April 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12605

RESEARCH

Observed parenting aspects of child compliance in

custodial grandfamilies

Laura Collier Portner

1

|Patricia L. Kaminski

1

|Bert Hayslip Jr

1

|

Gregory C. Smith

2

|Justin M. Litvin

1

1

Department of Psychology, University of

North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

2

College of Education, Health, & Human

Services, Kent State University, Kent,

OH, USA

Correspondence

Bert Hayslip Jr., Department of Psychology,

P.O. Box 311280, University of North Texas,

Denton, TX, 76203 USA.

Email: berthayslip@my.unt.edu

Funding information

National Institute of Nursing Research, Grant/

Award Number: R01NR012256

Abstract

Objective: This study explored differences between the

observed parenting behaviors of custodial grandmothers

(CGMs) with grandchildren varying in symptoms of

hyperactivity–inattention (HI).

Background: Little is known about the parenting practices

of grandparent caregivers, and most extant studies are

based on self-report data rather than direct observations of

grandparent–grandchild interactions.

Method: Custodial grandmothers (N=170) completed

ratings of grandchild HI and participated in a dyadic inter-

action task with their grandchild so that the relative posi-

tivity of their comments and type and number of their

commands could be coded. We also coded grandchildren’s

behavioral responses to each of their CGM’s commands.

Results: Controlling for child age, there were no differ-

ences in parenting variables between high and low HI

groups. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that,

controlling for child age, child HI did moderate the rela-

tionship between commands given by a grandmother and

child compliance, where children lower in HI were more

likely than children high in HI symptoms to comply in the

face of high levels of commands. In general, however,

CGMs were effective in eliciting child compliance. A sec-

ond hierarchical regression model, also controlling for

child age, suggested that for some children, grandmothers’

encouragement and praise (vs. criticism and discourage-

ment) was an effective method of gaining compliance with-

out overrelying on commands.

Conclusion: This study revealed complex relationships

among positive and negative parenting practices, direct

and indirect commands, and compliance. Such relation-

ships transcend grandchild HI status but, in part, vary

with grandchild age.

Received: 7 July 2020Revised: 19 February 2021Accepted: 28 May 2021

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12605

© 2021 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2022;71:783–803.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 783

Implications: This study provides unique insights into the

childrearing practices of CGMs and has implications for

interventions targeting grandparent caregivers’parenting

skills.

PARENTING AMONG GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

Underscored by substantial increases in grandparents who are the primary caregivers for their

grandchildren over the past decade (Hayslip et al., 2017), parenting is perhaps the most salient

of the challenges facing such persons (Kaminski & Murrell, 2008), wherein some, but not all,

grandparents may have difficulty in adjusting to parenting under adverse and unexpected cir-

cumstances. Custodial grandparents (CGPs) also score high on factors (i.e., anxiety, irritability,

anger, and guilt) that are known to influence parenting stress (Healey et al., 2011; Kelley

et al., 2011).

Complicating matters is the fact that custodial grandchildren (GC) are typically at risk for

behavioral and adjustment difficulties and tend to have an overrepresentation of behavioral,

mood, and anxiety disturbances (Kelley et al., 2011; Smith et al., 2019), where symptoms of

hyperactivity–inattention (HI) are among the most commonly reported problems (Baker, 2000;

Smith et al., 2019). The challenge of managing a child’s HI is exacerbated when accompanied

by frequent child noncompliance and the associated mental and emotional demands on grand-

parent caregivers (Barkley, 2006). Indeed, grandchild problem behaviors and hyperactivity are

related to poorer physical health, negative affect, parental stress, and low role satisfaction in

CGPs (Goodman & Hayslip, 2008; Kaminski et al., 2008). In turn, parental stress among CGPs

also predicts problematic GC behaviors (see Ramaswamy et al., 2008; Smith &

Richardson, 2008). Thus, it is reasonable and consistent with research and a family systems per-

spective that the relationships between CGP’s mental health and behaviors and those of their

grandchildren are bidirectional.

It also is possible that GC with high HI were prenatally exposed to drugs, are genetically

predisposed to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) via a parent, or experience

those symptoms in reaction to the typically traumatic circumstances that led to their removal

from their biological parent or parents (e.g., child abuse or neglect, parental drug abuse, death,

incarceration, divorce; see Hayslip & Fruhauf, 2019; Kaminski & Murrell, 2008). Other studies

suggest that some GC may act out after being placed with a grandparent with whom they have

relational difficulties (see Baker, 2000). Subsequent behavior management problems with the

GC can affect the grandparent’s mental health, exacerbating the challenges of raising a child

with full-blown or subclinical ADHD (Baker, 2000; Hayslip & Kaminski, 2006; Kaminski &

Murrell, 2008; Smith & Richardson, 2008). Understanding such relational dynamics can enable

practitioners to more effectively treat CGPs facing parenting difficulties in raising a grandchild

with behavioral problems.

Similarly, Ramaswamy et al. (2008) found self-reported parental stress to predict negative

grandchild behaviors. Significantly, the demands of raising a grandchild can follow a cycle in

which parenting stress affects child behavior, and complimentarily, increased problematic child

behavior affects overall parenting stress (Goodman & Hayslip, 2008; Healey et al., 2011;

Kaminski et al., 2008). This self-perpetuating maladaptive cycle may be perpetuated by social

isolation and the underutilization of available parenting programs geared toward the manage-

ment of child behavior problems (see Kirby, 2015; Kirby & Sanders, 2014a). Indeed, Kirby and

Sanders (2014a) found that once exposed to parenting skills training, grandparent caregivers

found such strategies highly acceptable and useful and were likely to use such strategies; barriers

to use were time demands and skepticism that a specific strategy would work.

784 FAMILY RELATIONS