The prevalence of young carers – a standardised survey amongst school students (KiFam‐study)

Young carers supporting a relative with cancer: What is the healthcare professionals' knowledge in France? An exploratory study

PURPOSE

Many children and adolescents support relatives with cancer. However, literature about young carers (YCs) shows a lack of awareness among professionals, especially in oncology. This quantitative study aims to explore the level of knowledge and perceptions of healthcare professionals working with cancer patients about the situations and characteristics of YCs.

METHODS

395 professionals participated in an online survey. Professionals reported sociodemographic and professional information and answered several questions evaluating their perceptions about YCs, such as the types of support provided and the consequences of being a YC. Descriptive analysis and group comparisons (Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests) by sex, occupation, and patients treated (adult and/or pediatric) are performed on the data collected.

RESULTS

Overall, per the literature on YCs, professionals provide an adequate description of what a YC can be, even though one in two professionals have never heard the term. Several differences are observed: Men mention fewer types of support that YCs can provide, while women report more negative consequences of being a YC; psychologists and social workers report fewer positive impacts for these young people than the other professionals; professionals who work with pediatric patients mention fewer negative consequences than those who work with adults.

CONCLUSION

Oncology healthcare professionals have sufficient awareness of YCs; however, several professionals struggle to fully understand the situation of YCs. These findings underline the need for awareness programs in oncology to improve health professionals' understanding of YCs and enhance their identification and support.

The Prevalence of Caregiving among Young People

With the increasing number of people with chronic diseases and disabilities, the number of family members as caregivers have also been growing. Despite the attention paid to caregiving in recent years, little is known about caregiving among young people, particularly its global prevalence. The lack of information has important implications for health policy and management, resulting in the inability to form appropriate evidence-based policies and managerial decision making. This study aims to derive an estimate of the prevalence of caregiving among young people through a systematic review of the current literature. The results of this study revealed a prevalence of caregiving among younger adolescents of between 1.1% (1.06-1.14%) and 12.0% (11.02-12.98%). However, the assessment of caregiving varies across studies, and all were conducted in developed countries. These results provide information on the burden of caregiving in young people and reveal the lack of global information, calling for more research on and attention to this specific population.

What characterizes adolescent young carers? A multigroup comparative study

CONTEXT

To identify the characteristics of adolescent young carers (AYCs), studies in the literature have compared them with non-AYCs, but without considering that in the latter group, some face the illness of a relative whereas others do not.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were (1) to identify the characteristics of AYCs as compared with adolescents who are not young carers but are facing the illness/disability of a relative, or adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative, and (2) to identify factors associated with being a carer within adolescents facing a relative illness.

METHODS

A total of 4000 high school students (grades 10-12, mainly aged 15-17 years, 568 identified as AYCs, 1200 as adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer and 2232 as adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative) completed a self-reported questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, illness/disability in the family, caregiving activities (MACA-YC18 and specific emotional support scale), quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10) and mental health (GHQ-12). Chi-square tests, ANOVAs and logistic regressions were performed.

RESULTS

AYCs scored lower on the quality-of-life measure compared with adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative (p < .001) and had poorer mental health compared with adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer and adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative (p < .001). Logistic regressions showed that youth were more at risk to be an AYC when they were females (p < .001), when they had an extracurricular job (p < .001), spoke another language at home (p < .01), had siblings and were one of the oldest siblings (p < .001), and when the relative had a serious or chronic physical illness (p < .001) and lived with the youth (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the importance of distinguishing AYCs, adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer and adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative to better describe AYCs, recognizing that as the level of care provided might change over time, adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer could become AYCs or inversely. The factors that emerged could be used by professionals to better identify AYCs.

Promotion of Values Education (Factors Involved in Prosocial Behaviors and Volunteering)

(1) Background: Prosocial behavior aligns with the current societal model, where human values hold greater importance considering cultural, social, and personal variables that may influence the opportunity to benefit others. Hence, the objective of this research was established: to understand how diverse factors influence the values of young people, aiming to promote education and enhance prosocial behavior. (2) Methods: This study is quantitative research employing an empirical-analytical, cross-sectional social research method. A validated instrument was used with a sample of 1702 individuals from the city of Melilla, noteworthy for its multicultural context due to its location in North Africa. (3) Results: Inferential analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression to predict future behaviors, focusing on the factors influencing values. Various models were employed, incorporating twelve variables and four scales: sociability, transcendence, culture, and effects. (4) Conclusions: The results and conclusions suggest the need to enhance affect and sociability, primarily among the most prominent factors.

Being a Young Carer in Portugal: The Impact of Caring on Adolescents' Life Satisfaction

Caring for an ill or disabled relative can present significant challenges that may exceed the personal resources of the caregiver. Young carers (YCs) often take on this role, providing support to family members or friends, which can have far-reaching effects on various aspects of their lives. This study involved 235 adolescents, 106 YCs, and 129 non-carers (NCs), who completed questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, satisfaction with social support, family functioning, academic functioning, and caregiving activities. Tests of group differences (MANOVA and MANCOVA controlling for age) showed YCs had more caregiving activities than NCs (as expected) and, critically, significantly lower life satisfaction. Hierarchical regressions with the YCS subsample showed academic functioning, social support, and the negative impact of caregiving were associated with life satisfaction, and that the negative influence of caregiving was linked to family functioning and the quantity of caregiving activities. For NCs, academic functioning, satisfaction with social support, and family functioning were associated with life satisfaction. In conclusion, caregiving in adolescents appears to be linked to lower life satisfaction, but this effect is determined by their social support, academic functioning, and negative impact of caring, which in turn depends on their family functioning and amount of caring activities.

Professionals' Awareness of Young Carers in Schools: Results from a French Survey

Few studies have investigated professionals' awareness of young carers (YCs). Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore school professionals' awareness of YCs. The secondary aim was to compare professionals' responses according to their occupation. A total of 2658 professionals took part in this study by completing an online questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean for the perceived age for care beginning was 10.3 years old, with parents being perceived as the most frequent care recipient. The main caring activities reported were domestic chores, emotional support and sibling care, while care provided directly to the care recipient was perceived as less frequent. Many suggestions for improving the identification, referral and support of YCs were seen as relevant, but professionals were less supportive of suggestions for adjustments within schools. The key training needs centered around better identifying YCs and developing better knowledge of their difficulties. Differences were observed according to occupation, with administrative staff and teachers having less accurate perceptions than school counsellors as well as social and health professionals. This study shows that it can be difficult for school professionals to imagine a child providing care. Specific training, therefore, needs to be proposed according to school professionals' occupations.

Profiles of French young carers taking part in an arts and respite care program

Young carers (YCs) are children and adolescents who provide meaningful, regular support to a relative with a health problem. In France, only one programme exists to support them: the arts and respite care programme of the national association JADE. The aim of this study is to describe the profiles of YCs who had participated in this programme and to evaluate their expectations, opinions, and the evolution of their quality of life over the course of the programme. All YCs enrolled in the programme between 2017 and 2020 were invited to participate in the study. Upon arrival, the youths completed a self-report questionnaire addressing their sociodemographic and family situations, their caregiving activities, their quality of life, and their expectations for the programme. At the end of each week, a questionnaire evaluating their opinion of the programme and their quality of life was completed. A hundred and seventeen children participated (average age: 12; 71.8% girls). Most YCs provided support to a parent or sibling with a chronic somatic disease. The support mainly concerned doing domestic tasks and providing emotional support for the relative and was significantly higher among adolescents. Their expectations were mainly about getting respite and meeting other young people. Their levels of satisfaction were high and aligned with their expectations. Their quality of life increased significantly. French YCs in this programme had characteristics comparable to those observed internationally. The results underline the importance of respite and the benefits such a programme can bring to YCs.

Assessing caring activities in French adolescents and young adults: Relevance of the Multidimension Assessment of Caring Activities for Young Carers (MACA-YC18)

BACKGROUND

Young carers (YC) and young adult carers (YAC) have become of interest in research and practice. The 18-item Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities for Young Carers (MACA-YC18) was developed for identifying the extent and nature of caring activities across six domains: domestic chores, household management, financial/practical help, personal care, emotional care, and sibling care. The aim of this research was to investigate the psychometric properties of the French version of the MACA-YC18.

METHODS

Two quantitative studies were conducted in a general population among adolescents and young adults. The sample was composed of 2688 adolescents (M_age  = 16.08; SD_age  = 0.98; 60.60% girls) in Study 1 and 1192 young adults (M_age  = 20.52; SD_age  = 1.89; 78.27% girls) in Study 2. The psychometric properties were examined via construct validity through internal consistencies, confirmatory factorial analysis, and invariance measurement regarding: gender (girls vs. boys), having a sick/disabled relative (having vs. not), relative's type of illness/disability (physical illness vs. mental illness vs. other illnesses/disabilities), providing support to a sick/disabled relative (providing vs. not), and living arrangement (with family vs. not).

RESULTS

In both studies, internal consistencies were in line with those reported in the literature, the 6-factor structure was confirmed, and strict invariances were highlighted.

CONCLUSIONS

Results show that the French version of the MACA-YC18 has good psychometric properties regarding construct validity not only among adolescents but also among young adults. This instrument appears to be a relevant screening tool for identifying and characterizing young carers in the general population.

Examination of the tripartite model of youth caregiving in the context of parental illness

OBJECTIVE

This study refined the conceptualisation of youth caregiving by testing the tripartite model of youth caregiving proposed by Pakenham and Cox, comprising caregiving responsibilities, experiences, and tasks. We also investigated convergent validity of the model by examining the unique and joint contributions of the three youth caregiving components to youth adjustment outcomes.

DESIGN

A total of 681 Italian youth, 325 young carers and 356 non-carers, aged 11 to 24 years participated in a cross-sectional study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Participants completed a questionnaire assessing demographics, youth caregiving, and psychosocial adjustment.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that compared to a one-factor model, the three-factor youth caregiving model provided a better fit to the data in the young carer and non-carer subgroups. The three youth caregiving components predicted variations in youth adjustment. Caregiving experiences were the strongest predictor of poorer youth adjustment while caregiving tasks predicted improvement in two youth adjustment outcomes in diverse youth caregiving contexts.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support the validity of a three-factor model of youth caregiving, indicating that caregiving responsibilities, experiences, and tasks represent empirically distinct but related youth caregiving components. Interventions should mitigate the adverse and cultivate the positive effects of youth caregiving.

Psychosocial resources contributing to resilience in Austrian young carers-A study using photo novella

Caring for their chronically ill or disabled family members is a responsibility that may be assumed by children and adolescents (“young carers”) and may affect young carers’ lives in many ways. Some young carers may experience long‐term adverse health effects related to their early caring responsibilities and others may demonstrate healthy adaptation. Little research applying nonretrospective designs, however, has been done from the perspective of young carers regarding the psychosocial resources that enable them to handle the responsibility of caring for chronically ill or disabled family members. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to identify psychosocial resources used by young carers in Austria. Ten children and adolescents (aged 9–17) took photographs to illustrate their everyday lives. The photographs were then used to guide subsequent interviews. Data were analyzed following the principles of directed qualitative content analysis and using the theoretical lens of resilience. We identified two sets of psychosocial resources: (1) Personal resources comprising (a) being able to spend leisure time and (b) finding distraction from sorrows and problems. (2) Interpersonal resources comprising (a) fostering meaningful friendships, (b) receiving support from the family, and (c) bonding with the ill or disabled family member. Young carers largely have the same repertoire of resources as other children and can use them specifically to respond to the care burden. Interventions to support young carers must focus on promoting peer contact and cohesion within the nuclear family as well as bonding with the ill or disabled relative.

Invisible population: Understanding recruitment barriers of a nurse-led support programme for families with caregiving children in Austria

Aims

To evaluate why no families could be recruited for a nurse-led and family-centred support programme in Austria which aimed to prevent an age-inappropriate caring role for young carers.

Design

A qualitative study incorporating qualitative e-interviews and telephone interviews.

Method

Twenty-one interviews were conducted with statistically significant project stakeholders (N = 17) and with adult family members of children with caring responsibilities (N = 4). Data collection and analysis were guided by the "Social Marketing Framework." Relevant statements were assigned to the main categories: product; price; promotion; place; and working with partners.

Results

The lack of awareness towards young carers, the unfamiliar, open outcome approach of the intervention, the inappropriate language used in promotional materials and the families' fear of stigma while seeking support were identified as central obstacles for successful recruitment of families and implementation of the support programme.