Social Intelligence Training for Custodial Grandfamilies

The investigators examine the efficacy of an online Social Intelligence Intervention (SII) at
improving the health and well-being of custodial grandmothers (CGMs) and their adolescent
custodial grandchildren (ACG) through mutual enhancement of their social competencies. This
target population is of particular importance because both CGMs and ACG experience
significant early life adversities that lead to hypervigilance of others, mistrust, social
isolation, interpersonal conflict, and the inability to garner warmth and support from family
and friends. Numerous studies have shown that these relational challenges within "risky
families" often lead to life-long interpersonal difficulties that increase the probability of
behavioral and physical health problems. Furthermore, adolescence is a key period for the
development of social competence, which is influenced by supportive caregiving and positive
modeling from female parent figures. However, because the ability of CGMs to carry out this
intergenerational transmission of social skills is challenged, examining joint social
intelligence training for CGM-ACG dyads is valuable for reversing this negative sequela. Yet,
to date, no other investigators have done so. To address this gap, ant an online randomized
clinical trial will be conducted with 340 nationally-recruited CGM-ACG (ages 12-18) dyads
assigned to either the SII or an attention control condition. Data will be obtained at pre-
and post-test, and at 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-ups via questionnaires completed by phone.
Daily dairies will be collected online from 170 randomly selected dyads, and qualitative
interviews will be conducted with 60 dyads to probe how the SII affected their daily social
competence and social ties. We will obtain quantitative and qualitative measures of key
social cognitive processes, quality of close interpersonal ties, psychological well-being,
and physical health. Administrative medical, criminal, and education records for all 340
dyads will also be obtained for cost-benefit analyses that examine changes in burden on
public systems. These mixed-methods allow rigorous examination of four specific aims: (1) To
investigate if the SII enhances social competencies that, in turn, produce long-term changes
in relationship quality, well-being, and physical health; this includes determining if
increased social competence in one dyad member leads to partner effects in the other; (2) To
examine if cumulative risk, gender, and age moderate SII efficacy; (3) To study qualitatively
how CGM-ACG dyads view the SII as having changed their social competencies and yielded
positive outcomes; and (4) To assess the financial benefits of the SII to participants and
their communities. These aims address a highly significant public health problem that will
inform future efforts to support a wide range of high risk families, like custodial
grandfamilies, who typically have insufficient access to formal support services. This SII is
advantageous because it is inexpensive, delivered online, non-stigmatizing, and capable of
reaching a target population that is geographically disperse and greatly in need of
supportive programming.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Grandmothers of any age or race

- Providing full-time care to an adolescent grandchild between ages 12-18

- Providing care in their own residence

- Providing care in total absence of the grandchild's biological parents.

- The target adolescent custodial grandchild will be of either gender

- Between ages 12- 18

- The custodial grandmother has provided full-time care for at least 6 months in total
absence of the biological parents.

- Understanding of English well enough to comprehend all study materials.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Cognitive or behavioral problems that limit the ability of grandmothers and grandchildren
to comprehend the intervention and complete study measures