Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers
Adolescent young carers (AYCs) face the challenges of adolescence while also having care responsibilities. Caring can negatively affect an adult carer’s health, but there is less evidence on how caring affects AYCs, of whom there is little awareness among professionals. The aim of this survey study...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2447912 |
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| author | Miriam Svensson Kevin J. McKee Francesco Barbabella Rosita Brolin Lennart Magnusson Elizabeth Hanson |
| author_facet | Miriam Svensson Kevin J. McKee Francesco Barbabella Rosita Brolin Lennart Magnusson Elizabeth Hanson |
| author_sort | Miriam Svensson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adolescent young carers (AYCs) face the challenges of adolescence while also having care responsibilities. Caring can negatively affect an adult carer’s health, but there is less evidence on how caring affects AYCs, of whom there is little awareness among professionals. The aim of this survey study was to describe the AYCs’ characteristics and investigate factors associated with their perceived health. School pupils aged 15–17 from 11 Swedish municipalities completed a questionnaire addressing caring activities, received support and perceived health. Of the 3,015 participants, 702 (23%) were AYCs. Female gender, having a parent with a health-related condition, mental illness in a family or non-family member, and addiction problems in a non-family member were associated with poorer perceived health, while receiving support with caring was associated with better perceived health. Identifying the factors associated with AYCs’ perceived health can lead to appropriate support, but there also needs to be better representation of AYCs in policy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0b6361f4cb1f4b768ce0ffbdb6b2df6c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-0b6361f4cb1f4b768ce0ffbdb6b2df6c2025-01-10T05:28:47ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272025-12-0130110.1080/02673843.2024.2447912Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carersMiriam Svensson0Kevin J. McKee1Francesco Barbabella2Rosita Brolin3Lennart Magnusson4Elizabeth Hanson5Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenDepartment of Social Work, Institute of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, SwedenDepartment of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenDepartment of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenDepartment of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenDepartment of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, SwedenAdolescent young carers (AYCs) face the challenges of adolescence while also having care responsibilities. Caring can negatively affect an adult carer’s health, but there is less evidence on how caring affects AYCs, of whom there is little awareness among professionals. The aim of this survey study was to describe the AYCs’ characteristics and investigate factors associated with their perceived health. School pupils aged 15–17 from 11 Swedish municipalities completed a questionnaire addressing caring activities, received support and perceived health. Of the 3,015 participants, 702 (23%) were AYCs. Female gender, having a parent with a health-related condition, mental illness in a family or non-family member, and addiction problems in a non-family member were associated with poorer perceived health, while receiving support with caring was associated with better perceived health. Identifying the factors associated with AYCs’ perceived health can lead to appropriate support, but there also needs to be better representation of AYCs in policy.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2447912Adolescenceadolescent young carersinformal careperceived healthSwedensocial support |
| spellingShingle | Miriam Svensson Kevin J. McKee Francesco Barbabella Rosita Brolin Lennart Magnusson Elizabeth Hanson Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Adolescence adolescent young carers informal care perceived health Sweden social support |
| title | Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers |
| title_full | Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers |
| title_fullStr | Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers |
| title_short | Associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers |
| title_sort | associations between caring activities and perceived health among adolescent young carers |
| topic | Adolescence adolescent young carers informal care perceived health Sweden social support |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2447912 |
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