A new study by researchers at University of Limerick has identified an increased risk of mental health issues for young carers. According to the study, which has just been published in the prestigious ‘The Lancet Public Health’ journal, over time caring increased young people’s risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and self-harm.
The research highlights the increased mental health risks for young people who provide informal care and support to family members suffering from physical or intellectual disabilities, old age, poor mental health, and substance abuse issues.
Notably, young carers who engaged in long-term or intensive caregiving duties, measured in increasing hours per week, suffer worse mental health outcomes compared to their non-caring peers.
The research, titled ‘Health outcomes and psychosocial determinants in young carers: a systematic review’, also revealed that young carers who were assisting with personal care (i.e. washing, toileting), female carers, and carers from an ethnic minority background were at a higher risk.
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING NECESSARY
The research – carried out by a team of researchers at UL – consisted of a review of global caregiving literature to uncover the physical and mental toll experienced by young carers over time.
Lead author Aoife Bowman Grangel, a researcher based in UL’s Department of Psychology, highlighted that health outcomes among young carers can vary considerably depending on contextual factors.
“Our previous research has shown that strong parental relationships, particularly those marked by expressions of appreciation, can help protect young carers from developing depression.
“A deeper understanding of the social factors that influence health and well-being is crucial for designing targeted interventions and support systems to improve outcomes for this group,” she added.
Evidence from ‘The Economic and Social Research Institute’ (ESRI) indicate that up to one quarter of Irish young people provide such care. Census data indicates that a substantial proportion of these young carers provide over 15 hours of care per week, with approximately 12% delivering more than 43 hours, exceeding the duration of a typical full-time adult work week.
The research also summarises the psychological and social determinants of health, highlighting the crucial role of social connections for young carers’ mental health. Young carers may be at increased risk of social exclusion and bullying, have less time for social activities, and reduced participation in social events and extracurricular activities. Over time, this may impact the quality of their relationships with peers and family, as high-intensity caring can increase stress levels, leading to conflict and resentment.
The research also looked at the effects of caring on physical health, which proved “inconclusive”.
