Psychosocial comparison of carers and noncarers

Associations between young informal caring and mental health: a prospective observational study using augmented inverse probability weighting

“…The results are consistent with other international studies that have demonstrated mental health penalities associated with being a young carer. [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] While these associations are unlikely to be clinically meaningful at the individual level, they may translate into important shifts in the distribution of mental health within the population of young carers. 30 The results indicate that young carers are a population at risk of experiencing poorer mental health, and support is needed to reduce mental health inequalities in this group due to their caring responsibilities.…”

“…A study among 295 young carers aged 14-25 years in the UK reported that 45% of participants perceived that they had a mental health problem 13 . A Canadian study comparing 124 young carers and 124 non-carers found evidence of reduced self-esteem and a higher incidence of depressive symptoms among young carers, 14 and a large school survey among 11,215 pupils of city schools in Glasgow, Scotland found more psychosocial problems among young carers relative to those who did not provide unpaid care. 15 Cross-sectional studies do not provide the temporal information needed to establish whether caring precedes poor mental health or vice versa.…”

Benefit finding moderates the relationship between young carer experiences and mental well-being

“…Accordingly, children and adolescents who provide care to family members or close friends with an illness, disability, or frailty may experience negative consequences regarding their own health, development, and career opportunities (e.g. Lakman & Chalmers, 2019;Robison et al, 2020;Stamatopoulos, 2018). This makes young carers, as they are internationally referred, an especially vulnerable group of youth .…”

Unfolding What Self-Compassion Means in Young Carers’ Lives

“…In other words, those who reported it was normal for them could have been socialized into the role (e.g., have been born into it), and since they started caregiving at an earlier age, it was all they knew (Hamilton & Adamson, 2013 ; McDonald et al, 2010 ; Smyth et al, 2011a , 2011b ). The ability to provide caregiving “naturally” could also indicate temperamental differences that other children and youth may not possess (Lakman & Chalmers, 2019 ). Another potential explanation, and perhaps a more problematic view, is that with time and increased complexity of the caregiving situation, these young people may think more and more about their family member(s)’ needs and less and less of their own (Nagl-Cupal et al, 2015 ).…”

“…In general, caregiving seems to be associated with some costs or, as Stamatopoulos ( 2018 ) described it, ‘a young carer penalty’, which can include emotional, psychological, social, and educational disadvantages (Lakman & Chalmers, 2019 ; Lakman et al, 2017 ; Metzing-Blau & Schnepp, 2008 ; Moore et al, 2009 ; Nagl-Cupal et al, 2014 ). Previous studies showed that some YCs experienced depression, low self-esteem, poorer health, as well as lower levels of life satisfaction, happiness, and well-being (Banks et al, 2002 , Banks et al, 2001 ; Chalmers & Lucyk, 2012 ; Collins & Bayless, 2013 ; Hamilton & Adamson, 2013 ; Lakman & Chalmers, 2019 ; Lloyd, 2013 ; Thomas et al, 2003 ). Yet, when taking into consideration YCs’ outlook on life, some positive outcomes become noteworthy.…”