Factors Influencing Happiness of the Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren in Rural Areas of Northern Thailand
Sutham Nanthamongkolchai PhD*, Chokchai Munsawaengsub MD*, Pimsurang Taechaboonsermsak PhD*, Arpaporn Powwattana PhD**
Affiliation : * Department of Family Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To study the factors influencing happiness of grandmothers raising grandchildren in the rural areas of Northern
Thailand.
Material and Method: Cross-sectional survey research was conducted among 400 grandmothers, aged 50-79 years, who
raised their grandchildren in the rural areas of Northern Thailand. Participants were selected by cluster sampling. Data were
collected through a structured interview from April to July 2009 and analyzed by frequency, percentage, Pearson’s product
moment correlation coefficient, and Multiple regression analysis.
Results : Nearly half (46.8%) of grandmothers raising grandchildren had high level of happiness, followed by moderate level
(40.4%) and low level (12.8%). The factors, which significantly influenced the happiness of the grandmothers, were self-
esteem, social support, and family relationships (p-value <0.05). In addition, self-esteem, social support, and family relationships
could significantly predict happiness of the grandmothers by 48.1%. Self-esteem had the highest predictive power of happiness
among grandmothers.
Conclusion : The factors influencing happiness of grandmothers raising grandchildren were self-esteem, social support, and
family relationships. To promote happiness of grandmothers, responsible organizations should establish activities that
enhance the grandmother’s self-esteem, provide sufficient social support, and promote good family relationships.
Keywords : Happiness, Grandmother raising grandchildren, Self-esteem, Social support, Family relationship
