Impact of young carers' experiences on their mental health in emerging adulthood: Evaluation from a psychiatric perspective.

Abstract

Aim: Previous research has primarily explored the negative impacts of caregiving on young carers (YCs)' mental health during childhood and adolescence, with limited focus on emerging adulthood. In particular, quantitative evidence on the development of depression in YCs in emerging adulthood is limited, especially regarding its persistence after caregiving ends. To address this, we aimed to assess the mental health of emerging adults with YC experience by categorizing them into past YCs (pYCs) who no longer provide care and those who continue to provide care (current young adult carer/past YCs, cYAC/pYCs) alongside a non-YCs control group. We also aimed to identify factors contributing to depressive symptoms in these groups, focusing on caregiving-related environmental factors during childhood and adolescence.

Methods: Participants aged 18-25 were recruited online and divided into three groups. Demographic information, depressive/anxiety symptoms, well-being, and peer victimization were assessed, and binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the factors contributing to depressive symptoms.

Results: A total of 162 cYAC/pYCs, 161 pYCs, and 534 non-YCs were analyzed. Both the cYAC/pYCs and pYCs groups had higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms than the non-YCs group, with no significant differences between cYAC/pYCs and pYCs. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that female sex, taking care of their own caregiver, solo family caregiving, and experiencing peer victimization were significant predictors of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Being a YC has lasting impacts on mental health and the risk of depressive symptoms, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to support this vulnerable population.