A Qualitative Study on Grandmothers' Experiences Looking After Their Grandchildren

This research was carried out using qualitative research methods and techniques in order to explore the experiences of grandmothers who look after their grandchildren. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 grandmothers reached by snowball sampling. The data created by in-depth interviews were analysed with the qualitative data analysis program MAXQDA. As a result of the analysis, four themes were reached, namely the meaning attributed to being grandmother, the grandmother's decision to look after their grandchildren, grandmothers’ experiences in grandchild care process, coping and social support. Participants' perceptions of being grandmother were positive but they faced many difficulties in the process of looking after their grandchildren. Grandmothers spend most of their time with their grandchildren and are isolated from social life during the care process. Grandmothers emphasized the need for support mechanisms in dealing with difficulties in grandchild care