Early Caregiving: Perceived Parental Relations and Current Social Support

Abstract

There is very little research on the effects of early caregiving on adult development. The purpose of the present study was to: (1) provide descriptive information on young caregivers, and (2) determine if there is a relation between early caregiving experiences, early parent-child relations and their current (adult) social support. Early caregiving was defined as providing assistance with basic and/or instrumental activities of daily living to parents or adult relatives, while under the age of 21. Thirty-eight individuals (33 females, 5 males) completed measures of their early caregiving experiences, the Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI), and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Individuals who began caregiving at older ages (adolescence) perceived their father's as more warm and caring than those who began caregiving at younger ages (early to middle childhood). Smaller amounts of care provided to care recipients were associated with more perceived current affectionate support and emotional and informational support available to young caregivers in adulthood. The smaller the duration of the caregiving experience, the more perceived affectionate support available to young caregivers in adulthood. The higher the reports of father's warmth and caring toward the young caregiver, the more perceived tangible support available to them in adulthood. Warmth from father's during the first 16 years of life is also associated with reports of a greater amount of relatives and friends available to provide support.

Health-Related Behaviors: A Study Among Former Young Caregivers

“…Pakenham et al (2006) found that child caregivers report more isolation than children with healthy parents due to their caregiving experiences. Shifren (2008) found that longer duration and higher frequency of early caregiving experiences were associated with less current affectionate support from others once former caregivers reached adulthood. Each of these studies provides an important contribution to understanding the former young caregivers' experiences.…”

“…Becoming a caregiver can occur at any time in one's lifespan from childhood through older adulthood (Dellmann-Jenkins and Brittain 2003;Gates and Lackey 1998;Shifren 2008;Siskowski 2006;Stein et al 1998;Vitaliano et al 2003). US surveys on younger caregivers report that 1.3-1.4 million individuals between ages 8 and 18 years old may be young caregivers , and about 3.6-5.5 million individuals in emerging adulthood (18-25 years old) provide care for others .…”

“…An increase in births for women in their late 30s or early 40s (Ventura et al 2008), combined with the increased risk of the development of chronic illnesses in adult relatives, may require assistance from others (Family Caregiver Alliance 2010). Children living with family members, as chronic illnesses develop in these family members, are taking on the caregiving role for these adult relatives (Shifren 2008;Siskowski 2006).…”

“…There has been work on depressive symptoms in young caregivers, behavior problems, academic problems, issues with friendship, lower life satisfaction, and effects of early caregiving on former young caregivers' adult mental health and adult social support (Bauman et al 2006;Lackey and Gates 2001;Shifren and Kachorek 2003;Shifren 2008;Siskowski 2006;Pakenham et al 2006). Siskowski (2006) found that middle school children reported that providing care for a family member hindered their academic performance.…”

“…Former young caregivers may have to deal with multiple roles as college students, workers, and parents. Former young caregivers may not have the time to socialize with other individuals as they try to reach goals they were not able to achieve earlier in life due to their caregiving responsibilities for adult relatives (Shifren 2008;Siskowski 2006).…”