Positive and Negative Impacts of Caring among Adolescents Caring for Grandparents. Results from an Online Survey in Six European Countries and Implications for Future Research, Policy and Practice

Although up to 8% of European youngsters carry out high-intensity care for a family member, adolescent young carers (AYCs), especially those caring for their grandparents (GrPs), remain an under-researched group. This study aimed at addressing the current knowledge gap by carrying out an online surv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2020-09, Vol.17 (18), p.6593
Main Authors: Santini, Sara, Socci, Marco, D'Amen, Barbara, Di Rosa, Mirko, Casu, Giulia, Hlebec, Valentina, Lewis, Feylyn, Leu, Agnes, Hoefman, Renske, Brolin, Rosita, Magnusson, Lennart, Hanson, Elizabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Adolescents
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
Child development
COVID-19
Data collection
Europe
Families & family life
Female
Grandparents
Humans
Intergenerational Relations
Intergenerational relationships
Internet
Male
Mental health
Parents & parenting
Polls & surveys
Quality of Life
Questionnaires
Regression analysis
Researchers
Schools
Social isolation
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teenagers
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Summary:Although up to 8% of European youngsters carry out high-intensity care for a family member, adolescent young carers (AYCs), especially those caring for their grandparents (GrPs), remain an under-researched group. This study aimed at addressing the current knowledge gap by carrying out an online survey in Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The analysis included a final sample of 817 AYCs aged 15-17 years old. AYCs of grandparents (GrPs) were compared to AYCs of other care recipients (OCRs), in order to identify any difference in positive and negative caregiving outcomes and exposure factors between the two groups. Linear or logistic regression models were built, and multivariate analyses were repeated, including a fixed effect on the country variable. AYCs of GrPs experienced more positive caregiving outcomes than AYCs of OCRs across all six countries. Being female or non-binary, and having a migration background, were associated with more negative outcomes, regardless of the relationship with the care recipient. Further research on intergenerational caregiving outcomes is recommended for shaping measures and policies, which preserve the intergenerational emotional bonds, whilst protecting AYCs from inappropriate responsibilities, undermining their mental health and well-being.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph17186593