ScholarWorks > Institutes & Centers > Grandparents Raising Grandchildren > GrandFamilies > Vol. 5 > Iss. 2 (2019)
Abstract
Research on grandparent caregivers has received growing attention, yet information about Asian American grandparents is limited. Using 2010-2012 American Community Survey (ACS) data, this study provides a national profile of Asian American grandparent caregivers across ethnic groups by region (East, Southeast, and South Asians), and examines socioeconomic and cultural factors related to grandparent caregiving. Of the over half a million Asian Americans who lived with grandchildren during 2010-2012, about 16 percent reported as primary caregivers, and over 31 percent lived in grandparent-headed households. Compared with East Asians, South Asian grandparents were less likely to be primary caregivers for their grandchildren, but no difference was observed between East and Southeast Asians. East Asian grandparents, especially noncitizens, were more likely to care for their grandchildren than native born citizens. Marital status, citizenship, language spoken at home, employment, and poverty level were related to the odds of being the primary caregivers, but the relationships varied by ethnic groups. Findings indicate ethnic heterogeneity in Asian American grandparent caregiving and the necessity for future research in this understudied population. In general, grandparent caregivers and their households may face greater financial challenges than non-caregivers. Attention and effort are needed in policy and practice arenas to address specific individual and household needs after taking into account ethnic, cultural, and economic characteristics.
Recommended Citation
Tang, F.,
Jang, H.,
Mulvaney, E.
(2019). Asian American grandparents caring for grandchildren: Findings from the Census 2010-2012 American Community Survey. GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy, 5 (2).
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/grandfamilies/vol5/iss2/5
