Understanding young caring in the UK pre- and post-COVID-19: Prevalence, correlates, and insights from three UK longitudinal surveys

IF 2.4 2区 社会学 Q1 FAMILY STUDIES
Alejandra Letelier , Anne McMunn , Andy McGowan , Beth Neale , Rebecca Lacey
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Abstract

Background

Despite increasing awareness of young carers in recent years, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of both the prevalence and the characteristics of young carers. Our study aims to address this gap by examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and characteristics of young carers.

Methods

This research utilised data from three UK longitudinal surveys: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS), the COVID Social Mobility and Opportunities (COSMO) study, and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS). We focused on adolescents aged 16–18, and examined two pre-COVID (UKHLS and MCS) and two post-COVID (UKHLS and COSMO) samples.

Results

The prevalence of young carers increased from 8.0 % pre-COVID to 9.8–11.9 % since COVID. Young carers were more commonly found in single-parent and socioeconomically disadvantaged households, with a higher prevalence of young carers in homes where parents were out of paid employment or held lower educational qualifications. Young carers were also more likely to reside in deprived areas. Most young carers engaged in low-intensity caring (< 10 h/week), but post-COVID there was an increase in high-intensity caring (10 + hours/week), predominantly assumed by young female carers. The primary recipients of care were parents, followed by grandparents and siblings, with no change in the care recipient type since COVID.

Conclusion

This study showed an increase in the prevalence of young carers, particularly those providing high-intensity care, since the onset of the COVID pandemic. Further, young carers were more likely to come from socioeconomically disadvantaged households and areas. Given the potential impacts that young caring can have on young peoples’ lives, it is imperative that support for young carers is increased, particularly for those facing multiple disadvantages. In tandem, services that support adult health and social care need to play a key role in identifying young carers.
了解 COVID-19 前后英国年轻人的关爱情况:英国三次纵向调查的流行率、相关性和启示
背景尽管近年来人们对年轻照护者的认识不断提高,但我们对年轻照护者的普遍性和特征的了解仍然存在很大差距。我们的研究旨在通过考察 COVID-19 大流行对年轻照护者的流行率和特征的影响来弥补这一差距。方法本研究利用了英国三项纵向调查的数据:英国家庭纵向调查(UKHLS)、COVID 社会流动性和机会(COSMO)研究以及千年队列研究(MCS)。我们以 16-18 岁的青少年为研究对象,分别研究了两次 COVID 之前(UKHLS 和 MCS)和两次 COVID 之后(UKHLS 和 COSMO)的样本。在单亲家庭和社会经济条件较差的家庭中,年轻照护者更为常见,而在父母没有从事有偿工作或学历较低的家庭中,年轻照护者的比例更高。年轻照护者也更有可能居住在贫困地区。大多数年轻照护者从事低强度的照护工作(每周 10 小时以下),但 COVID 后,高强度照护工作(每周 10 小时以上)有所增加,主要由年轻女性照护者承担。结论这项研究表明,自 COVID 大流行以来,年轻照护者,尤其是提供高强度照护者的人数有所增加。此外,年轻照护者更有可能来自社会经济条件较差的家庭和地区。鉴于年轻照护者对年轻人生活的潜在影响,当务之急是增加对年轻照护者的支持,尤其是那些面临多重不利条件的年轻照护者。与此同时,支持成人健康和社会护理的服务机构也需要在识别年轻照护者方面发挥关键作用。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
6.30
自引率
6.10%
发文量
303
期刊介绍: Children and Youth Services Review is an interdisciplinary forum for critical scholarship regarding service programs for children and youth. The journal will publish full-length articles, current research and policy notes, and book reviews.
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