Peer-reviewed article
Multilevel Factors Associated with Kinship Caregiver Health and Child Well-Being: An Ecological Analysis
Qi Wu, Amanda Klein-Cox, Angela Tobin, Ramona W. Denby, Joyce Y. Lee et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines factors affecting the health of kinship caregivers (relatives raising children) and the well-being of children in their care across the United States. Using survey data from 186 kinship caregivers, researchers identified that caregiver health, financial resources, employment, and child disability were important factors shaping outcomes for both caregivers and children. The findings suggest that effective support for kinship families requires attention to multiple interconnected factors at different levels, from individual circumstances to service systems.
Key points
- Caregiver health was significantly associated with caregiver age, financial assistance, income, caregiving duration, grandparent status, and child disability
- Child well-being was primarily associated with caregiver health, caregiver marital status and employment, biological parent involvement, and children's functioning
- Financial assistance and income levels for caregivers were linked to both caregiver and child outcomes
- The study used ecological systems theory to examine factors across multiple levels affecting kinship families
- Results underscore the need for holistic, targeted support services that address interconnected factors in kinship care
Limitations
This cross-sectional study captured associations at one point in time and cannot establish causation. The findings are based on self-reported online survey data from 186 U.S. caregivers, which may not be representative of all kinship caregiving situations or populations in other countries.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The study examines multi-level factors associated with kinship caregiver health and child well-being to provide a holistic understanding of their experiences and inform more effective kinship care supports. BACKGROUND: Kinship caregivers play an important role in providing stability and support for children who are unable to remain with their biological parents. However, both caregivers and children in kinship families often face challenges that can impact their overall health and well-being. Guided by ecological systems theory, this study examined the factors associated with kinship caregiver health and child well-being. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional online survey, data were collected from 186 U.S. kinship caregivers in 2024. OLS regression models included caregiver- and child-level demographics and experiences with service systems, classified according to ecological systems theory to capture multilevel relationships. RESULTS: Results showed that caregiver health was significantly associated with their age, financial assistance, income, caregiving duration, grandparent status, child disability, and selected service-related and child adversity factors. Child well-being was primarily associated with caregiver health, marital status and employment, biological parent status, and children's functioning. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the importance of considering multi-levels, interrelated factors when assessing health and well-being of kinship families. This study strengthens our understanding of how individual and systemic factors shape outcomes and underscores the need for more targeted, holistic support services for kinship families.