Parental stress in grandparents versus parents raising children with behavior problems

Primary caregivers of 82 children exhibiting behavior problems were categor ized into 3 family types: grandparent, single-parent, or two-parent. Each c aregiver completed the Parenting Stress index and the Child Behavior Checkl ist. Results of statistical comparisons revealed that although all caregive rs reported significant levels of behavior problems in their children, pare nts from both single- and two-parent families reported higher levels of par ental stress relative to grandparents. Discussion focuses on the need to id entify the specific types of stressors affecting families of different cons tellations to develop appropriate treatment programs for clinic-referred ch ildren and their families.