Research

Below are selected publications and presentations from the Grandfamilies Lab. You may view the complete listing and more information on Research Gate.

Grant Funding:

Innovative MSU Cares – Preventing and Responding to Mississippi Youth Suicide. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2019. Role: Program Evaluator. Status: Funded, $1,678,030.
Counting your blessings: Improving mental health outcomes through gratitude training in a custodial grandchild population. Mississippi State University Cross-College Research Grant Program, September, 2017. Primary Investigator: Danielle Nadorff, Ph.D. Status: Funded, $2,000 for one year (and eligible for one $2,000 renewal).
The Grandfamilies Support Group of Starkville, MS. The Brookdale Foundation Group, June, 2017. Role: Primary Investigator. Status: Funded, $10,000 for one year (and eligible for $5,000 annual renewal).

Publications (Accepted and Under Review):

Nadorff, D.K., Scott, R.K., & Fitchie, T. Depressive Symptoms and Suicidality of Those Raised in Kincare: A Peer Comparison Study. Status: Under review in Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention.
Provenzano, A., & Stearns, M.A., & Nadorff, D.K. The moderation of custodial grandparenting status and gender on the relation between marital status and health. Status: Under review in The International Journal of Aging and Human Development.
Lantz, E., Stearns, M.A., McKay, I., & Nadorff, D.K. The mediating effect of gratitude on the relation between religiosity and well-being: How increasing thankfulness helps one to practice their religion and be satisfied with life. Status: Under review in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
Stearns, M.A. & Nadorff, D.K. The Moderating Effect of Raising One’s Grandchildren on the Relation between Sleep and Depression. Status: Under review in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
McKay, I.T. & Nadorff, D.K. The impact of custodial grandparenting on cognitive performance in a longitudinal sample of grandparents raising grandchildren. Status: Under review in the Journal of Family Issues.
Stearns, M.A., Nadorff, D.K., Lantz, E.D., & McKay, I.T. (2018). Religiosity and depressive symptoms in older adults compared to younger adults: Moderation by age. Journal of Affective Disorders.
Nadorff, D.K. & Patrick, J.H. (2018). Predicting child safety: The effect of custodial grandparents’ depression, home safety, knowledge, and gender. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 16.
Lund, E., Thomas, K., Nadorff, D., Bouchard, L., Galbraith, K., & Bradley, A. (2018). A comparative analysis of three screening methods for non-suicidal self-injury in college students. Journal of College Counseling.
Nadorff, D.K. & Stearns, M.A. (2018). Hidden no longer: Black, Groce, & Harmon’s new book provides a fascinating glimpse into a vulnerable and understudied group of caregivers. International Journal of Aging and Human Development.
Adams-Price, C., Nadorff, D.K., Morse, L., Davis, K. & Stearns, M.A. (2017). The Creative Benefits Scale: Connecting generativity to life satisfaction. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 0, 1-24.
Patrick, J.H., Nadorff, D.K. & Blake, V.K. (2016). Physical health of custodial and caregiving grandfathers in North America. Chapter 11 in Grandfathers: Global Perspectives. A. Buchanan & A. Rotkirch (Eds.), Palgrave Macmillan.
Patrick, J.H., Graf, A.S., Nadorff, D.K., & Hayslip, B. (2015). Experiences with grandparents and attitudes toward custodial grandparenting. Grandfamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice, and Policy, 2, 92-109.
Nadorff, M.R., Nadorff, D.K., Germain, A. (2015). Nightmares: under-reported, undetected, and therefore untreated. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11, 747-750.
Adler, G., Pritchett, L.R., Kauth, M.R., Nadorff, D.K. (2014). A pilot project to improve access to telepsychotherapy at rural clinics. Journal of Telemedicine and e-Health, 20.
Fiske, A., Ciliberti, C., Clegg-Kraynok, M., Gould, C., Nadorff, D.K., Nadorff, M.R., Nazem, S., & Stahl, S. (2012). Mental health and aging. In Maddux, J.E. & Winstead, B. (Eds.), Psychopathology: Foundations for a contemporary understanding (3rd ed.). 399-425.
Gentzler, A.L., Oberhauser, A.M., Westerman, D., & Nadorff, D.K. (2011). College students’ use of electronic communication with parents: Links to loneliness, attachment, and relationship quality. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 14, 71-74.
Patrick, J.H. & Tomczewski*, D.K. (2008). Grandparents raising grandchildren: Benefits and drawbacks. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 5, 113-116.

Note: Dr. Nadorff's name is bolded (maiden name was Tomczewski). Italicized authors are lab students.

Selected Posters:

Scott, R.K., Nadorff, D.K., Barnett, M., & Yancura, L. (2020). Respect your elders: The relation between generativity and life satisfaction in custodial grandparents. Poster presented at the annual Aging in America conference. Atlanta, Georgia.
McKay, I.T., & Nadorff, D.K. (2020). Anger and hostility: A comparison of custodial and non-custodial grandparents. Poster presented at the annual Aging in America conference. Atlanta, Georgia.
Adams-Price, C.E., Kivnick, H.Q., de Medeiros, K., Ardelt, M., Orwoll, L., & Nadorff, D.K. (2019). Creativity in later life: Perspectives on its forms and meanings. Symposium presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. Austin, TX.
Nadorff, D.K., Williamson, E.A., & McKay, I.T. (2019). Could chasing grandkids keep us young? The association between custodial grandparent status and health. Poster presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. Austin, TX.
Stearns, M.A. & Nadorff, D.K. & Scott, R.K. (2019). The moderating effect of raising one’s grandchildren on the relation between sleep and depression. Poster presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. Austin, TX.
Kim, E.B., Nadorff, D.K., Scott, R.K., & McKay, I.T. (2019). The influence of custodial status on marital affectual solidarity and mental health among grandparents. Poster presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. Austin, TX.
Nadorff, D.K. (2017). Depression in Children Raised by Their Grandparents vs Foster Parents: The Impact of Parenting Style. Poster presented at the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics World Congress meeting. San Francisco, CA.
Stearns, M.A., Lantz, E.D., & Nadorff, D.K. (2017). Religiosity and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults Compared to Younger Adults: Moderation by Age. Poster presented at the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics World Congress meeting. San Francisco, CA.
Nadorff, D.K., & Adams-Price, C. (2016). Not just a hobby: Creativity’s moderation of the relation between anhedonia and suicidality in middle-aged and older adults. Poster presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. New Orleans, LA.
Stearns, M.A., Lantz, E., McKay, I., & Nadorff, D.K. (2016). Comparing grandparents raising grandchildren to foster parents on consistent parenting style and child attachment: Moderation by religious attendance. Poster presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. New Orleans, LA.
Adams-Price, C., Morse, L.W., & Nadorff, D.K. (2016). Connecting creativity to adult development: The link between generativity and life satisfaction. Paper presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting. New Orleans, LA.

Current Projects:

Preparing for Resubmission

Nadorff, D.K., Yancura, L., Berry, A.A., & Metzger, B. The financial impact of raising grandchildren: An analysis from the American Community Survey.
Israel, S.M., Adams-Price, C.E., Bolstad, C.J., & Nadorff, D.K. Creativity in aging: Does long term participation in creative hobbies reduce depression in middle-aged and older adults?
Fokakis, Z.N., Nadorff, D.K., & McKay, I.T. Is raising your grandchild bad for your health? The association between custodial grandparent status and biomarkers of health in Taiwanese grandparents.
Stearns, M.A. & Nadorff, D.K. Parenting and attachment to custodial grandparents versus foster parents: Moderation by religiosity.
Williamson, E.A., Nadorff, D.K., & McKay, I.T. Could Chasing Grandkids Keep Us Young? The Association Between Custodial Grandparent Status and Health.

Manuscript Preparation

Scott, R.K., Nadorff, D.K., Yancura, L. & Barnett, M.A. Respect Your Elders: The Relation Between Generativity and Life Satisfaction in Custodial Grandparents.
Nadorff, D.K., Scott, R.K., Griffin, R. & Wilmoth, J.D. Custodial grandchildren and foster children: A school performance comparison.
Nadorff, D.K., Gentzler, A.L., & Stearns, M.A. Retention of our highest-risk students: The effects of communication, loneliness, and attachment.
Rogers, M.M. & Nadorff, D.K. Grandparents’ Physical Ability, Childhood Impulsivity, and Distress.
Peters, D., Nadorff, D.K., & Lantz, E.D. Reasons expressed for assuming care of custodial grandchildren and foster children: A replication and extension of the Nine Ds.
Nadorff, D.K., Dozier, M.E., & Coble, K. The effect of becoming a custodial grandparent on marital status and satisfaction: A longitudinal assessment from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.
Nadorff, D.K., Stearns, M.A., & Scott, R.K. Religiosity and forgiveness in adults raised by non-biological parents: Moderation by gender.
Nadorff, D.K., Scott, R.K. & Stearns, M.A. Caregiver depression and child injury in non-parent caregivers.

Data Analysis

Nadorff, D.K., DeShong, H.L, McKay, I.T., & McDaniel, C.J. Stressed to the Breaking Point? A Two-Sample Study of the Impact of Caring for One’s Grandchildren on Anger and Hostility.
Valentine, M. & Nadorff, D.K. The impact of gender on a model of custodial grandparents’ physical health.
Mathews, R.M. & Nadorff, D.K. Too many treats, or not enough to eat? Custodial grandchildren’s food security and nutrition.
Nadorff, D.K. & Ralston, M. The moderating effect of state environment on the association between custodial grandparent status and health in a nationwide sample.
Nadorff, D.K. The kids are alright: Comparing custodial grandchildren’s emotional, behavioral, and physical health with that of foster children.
Fastring, D., Nadorff, D.K., & Robinson, J.C. Older Adult Nutrition and Exercise: The Impact of Rurality Across the Years.

Data Collection

McKay, I.T., & Nadorff, D.K. The Impacts of an Entrepreneurial Education Program on Entrepreneurial Intention and its Antecedents in a Population of Adolescent Males in Recovery. Status: Data Collection.