Abstract
This study examines changes in salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase among grandparents rearing grandchildren in rural Appalachia. Grandparent-caregivers experience greater stress than non- grandparent-caregivers. Participants included 20 grandparent-caregivers and a child for which they cared, who completed questionnaires assessing family functioning and mental health via interview. Grandparent-caregivers provided morning saliva samples once a year for two years. For grandparent-caregivers low in social support and religiosity, grandparent-caregiver depressive symptoms, child depressive symptoms, and child stress were associated with increased grandparent-caregiver salivary alpha-amylase. For grandparent-caregivers high in social support and religiosity, child depressive symptoms, child stress, and child aggression were associated with increased grandparent-caregiver cortisol.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 19-39 |
Number of pages | 21 |
Journal | Journal of Intergenerational Relationships |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Keywords
- Salivary cortisol
- grandparent-caregiver
- salivary alpha-amylase
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Archaeology
- Sociology and Political Science
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Life-span and Life-course Studies