A Qualitative Examination of Resilience Among Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Using the Resilience Portfolio Model

Abstract

Grandparents in the United States continue to show up and support their families in difficult times when parents are not able to do so. This indicates a form of strength and resilience worthy of study to expand literature, policy, and practice centered on caregiving with grandchildren. Although some studies have explored areas such as grandparents’ resourcefulness, positive caregiving appraisal, protective factors, and social support separately, there is a call for more holistic examination of their strength and resilience. To bridge this gap in literature, this study adopted the resilience portfolio model (RPM) using a qualitative method to examine the experience of grandparents raising grandchildren. A thematic analysis was conducted after semi-structured interviews with 13 GRG living in a mid-western state. Findings reveal a holistic view of how GRG demonstrate strengths and resilience in four different areas including 1) how they respond to daily challenges/crises, 2) the positive strategies they use to promote family well-being 3) how their earlier experiences in life influence their parenting experience with their grandchildren and 4) how they not only protect their families from future crises but how others are testifying of seeing positive changes in their lives of their grandchildren. The result of this study show the pertinency of the RPM in studying the experiences of GRG and the critical strengths and resilience that grandparents possess that could help not only in developing interventions that are more effective and efficient for GRG but also further policy and research with grandparents raising grandchildren.