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The Relationship Between Family Caregiving and the Mental Health of Emerging Young Adult Caregivers

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Abstract

Caring for dependent relatives has become a normative challenge for families in the USA and throughout the world. The study objective was to examine the relationship of family caregiving responsibilities and the mental health and well-being of individuals, ages 18–24 years, referred to as emerging young adults. It was hypothesized that young adult caregivers with past and present responsibilities would report significantly more symptoms of depression and anxiety, have lower self-esteem, and use less adaptive coping styles than non-caregiving peers. The sample consisted of 353 undergraduates (81 past caregivers, 76 current/past caregivers, and 196 non-caregivers). Caregivers were also evaluated in terms of care recipients, duration of caregiving, tasks, and hours of effort. Caregivers had significantly higher levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-caregivers. Research to clarify how caregiving interacts with other stressors in emerging young adults and influences behavioral health should be a priority.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    Jennifer Greene MSPH

  2. Department of Child and Family Studies, MHC 2406, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Donna Cohen PhD

  3. American Association of Caregiving Youth, 1515 N. Federal Highway, # 218, Boca Raton, FL, 33432, USA

    Constance Siskowski RN, PhD

  4. James A. Haley Veterans Medical Center, HSR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR), 8900 Grand Oak Circle, Tampa, FL, 33637, USA

    Peter Toyinbo MBChB, PhD

Authors
  1. Jennifer Greene MSPH
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  2. Donna Cohen PhD
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  3. Constance Siskowski RN, PhD
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  4. Peter Toyinbo MBChB, PhD
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Correspondence to Donna Cohen PhD.

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Greene, J., Cohen, D., Siskowski, C. et al. The Relationship Between Family Caregiving and the Mental Health of Emerging Young Adult Caregivers. J Behav Health Serv Res 44, 551–563 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9526-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9526-7

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