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Chapter 8

2008. Overhalf of theAfrican-American
      grandparentswhoresidewithagrandchild
      areresponsiblefortheircare(Simmons&
      Dye,2003).Thistypeof involved
      grandparentinghasbeenatime-tested
      familytechniquewithrootsintheblack
      culturaltraditionsandtheeconomicand
      socialrealitiesof blackculture.
      GrandmothersinAfrican-American
      familiestendtobeinfluentialandrespected
      bytheirchildrenandgrandchildrenasthey
      teachvalues,encourageeducation,and
      impartreligiousfaith(Kelch,2008).
      As inAfrican-American families,over
      half of the Native-American grandparents
      who live with their grandchildren are
      responsible for them (Simmons & Dye,
      2003).In these families,the role of
      grandparent has been shaped by a
      practical division of labor allowing
      younger women to participate in the work
      force.Transmission of Native-American
      identity is an important function of
      Native-American grandparents,especially
      those reporting tribal membership and
      living in a non-metropolitan area of an
      “Indian”state.(Mutchler,Baker,& Lee-
      Seung,2007).
      In Hispanic families,grandparent
      households are fairly common.One in 20
      Mexican-American grandparents are
      raising grandchildren.In contrast to their
      non-caregiver counterparts,Mexican-
      American grandparents tend to be
      significantly younger,married,without a
      high-school diploma and not in the labor

force (Simmons & Dye,2003).Despite

problems such as overcrowding and

poverty,Latina grandmothers had higher

life satisfaction than bothAfrican-

American orWhite grandmothers

(Goodman & Silverstein,2006).

Well-Being in the Middle Years

How people rate their well-being in

their middle years can affect both the

immediate and the extended family.As

already noted,midlife can be a

tumultuous period,both individually and

for the family as a whole.

Educational Status and Well-Being.

Peopletendtodefinethemselvesandtheir

personalachievementsthrougheducational

achievement.Onestudyfoundthat,

especiallyinwomen,lowereducational

levelsareassociatedwithincreased

psychologicaldistress(Markus,Ryff,

Curhan,&Palmersheim,2004).Mroczek

The more satisfied couples are with their lives, the more

likely they are to be satisfied with their marriages.

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