A qualitative study was designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the experiences
and emotions of grandmothers raising their grandchildren. Participants included 7
grandmothers ranging in age from 48 to 80. In-depth, semistructured interviews were used. A
computer program, NUD*IST, was used for data coding, and careful and thorough readings were
made of transcripts and field notes. The grandmothers' stories revealed common themes of
anger, frustration, loss, hurt, and depression. There was also love, satisfaction, pride,
joy, feeling needed and youthful, and other positive emotions. A key finding was that
grandmothers who did not report depression had positive and helpful relationships with the
parents of the grandchildren, whereas the grandmothers with persistent depression had
conflictive involvement with the parents. The findings may be useful to counselors and
family therapists in treating families headed by grandmothers.
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