Mental health of young informal carers: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose This systematic review aims to assess and evaluate quantitative evidence on the association between informal caregiving and mental health in young people. Methods This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021251666). We conducted our search in the following four databases: Medline (PubMed and OVID), EMBASE, PsycInfo and Web of Science. The last search was performed on the 17th of March of 2021. Quantitative studies that focused on carers aged 25 years or less and compared the mental health status of carers and non-carers were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for eligibility and performed the quality assessment using the Risk of Bias tool in Non-Randomised Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E). Results We identified a total of ten eligible articles. Mental health outcomes included depression, anxiety and other mental or emotional problems. Nine out of the ten studies showed that being a young carer was consistently associated with poor mental health. However, the overall quality of evidence was low, and longitudinal data were limited to three articles. The primary sources of bias were confounding and outcome measurement. Conclusion Young carers experience poorer mental health outcomes than their non-caring peers. However, we identified an overall lack of quantitative evidence of high methodological rigour. To establish if young caring leads to poor mental health, future research should focus on addressing the identified methodological limitations and understanding the mechanisms explaining these associations. Addressing these gaps can better inform the allocation of appropriate support and resources to optimise the mental health of young carers.

The mental health impact of school bullying among young carers in Australia: a causal mediation analysis

“…In the context of recent systematic reviews on the mental health of young carers 10 , 30 , this paper directly answers the need for more causally focused research on this association, a key gap in this area 10 , 30 . Our results align with cross-sectional research demonstrating a negative association between young caring and mental health, with a clear dose–response relationship 31 , as well as other emerging longitudinal evidence supporting a causal effect of informal care on young people's mental health 11 , 13 .…”

“…As mentioned in both systematic reviews, pathways through which young informal care leads to poor mental health outcomes have not been investigated 10 , 30 . Although recent evidence postulates benefit finding (the ability to identify positive changes after experiencing adverse events) as a protective factor for the mental health of young caregivers 34 , no previous study has explored the underlying mechanisms explaining the poorer psychological health of adolescent carers compared to their non-caring peers.…”

“…A recent systematic review identified that although longitudinal studies of the effects of informal care on the mental health among young people are still scarce, findings across these studies consistently demonstrate a negative effect 10 . Using a sample of Australian adolescents, King et al 11 found that informal care at the age of 14–15 years resulted in an increased risk of psychological distress four years later.…”

Get-togethers: Guided Peer-Support Groups for Young Carers

“…National and international studies have found a lower quality of life and less social participation among YCs compared to their non-caregiving peers [ 1 , 3 ]. Many YCs remain invisible and without support [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], and they experience short- and longer-term risks in various areas of life, such as disadvantages for their own health and psychosocial well-being [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Caregiving Responsibilities and Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adult Carers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study

“…Youth who take on responsibilities related to caring for a family member with disability, serious physical or mental illness, or alcohol/substance use problems, or who provide assistance to elderly relatives who have lost their autonomy due to age are broadly referred to as young carers [ 1 , 2 ]. Evidence indicates that, compared to their non-caring peers, these youth are at elevated risk for poorer mental health as well as other adverse psychosocial outcomes, such as poorer education, economic hardship, and worse health, especially when they care for an ill parent [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. While many of these studies have examined children and adolescent carers up to 18 years, carers in the emerging adult developmental stage (age 18–25), referred to as ‘young adult carers’, have received remarkably less research attention [ 7 , 8 ].…”