Caregiving Grandmothers Struggle With High Levels of Depression

A study led by researchers at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland finds that grandmothers who care for the grandchildren full time are more likely to struggle with depression compared to their peers who do not care for their grandchildren.

Carol Musil, professor of nursing and lead researcher, stated, “Although we expected the primary caregiver grandmothers raising grandchildren would have more strain and depressive symptoms, we were surprised at how persistent these were over the years examined in the study.”

Professor Musil estimates that there are 1 million grandmothers who are responsible for the grandchildren’s care in a home where the children’s parents do not reside. The study was published in the journal Nursing Outlook and may be accessed here.

Professor Musil is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in nursing from Case Western Reserve University.