Agnes Leu
Biographic Data
| ID | 6036301 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Agnes Leu |
| GIVEN NAMES | Agnes |
| FAMILY NAME | Leu |
| SIGNATURE | LEU A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Basel |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5451-837X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 57 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Visibility as a Key Dimension to Better Health-Related Quality of Life and Mental Health
This paper examines the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and mental health of adolescent young carers (AYCs) aged 15-17 in Switzerland, based on data collected within the Horizon 2020 project 'Psychosocial support for promoting mental health and well-being among AYCs in Europe' (ME-WE). It addresses the following questions: (1) Which characteristics of AYCs are associated with lower HRQL and with higher level of mental health problems? (2) D…
Recruitment of Adolescent Young Carers to a Psychosocial Support Intervention Study in Six European Countries
Young carers provide a substantial amount of care to family members and support to friends, yet their situation has not been actively addressed in research and policy in many European countries or indeed globally. Awareness of their situation by professionals and among children and young carers themselves remains low overall. Thus, young carers remain a largely hidden group within society. This study reports and analyses the recruitment process i…
Ethical Considerations When Conducting Pan-European Research with and for Adolescent Young Carers
Adolescent young carers (AYCs) are a sub-group of young carers who carry out significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility which would usually be associated with an adult. They are a potentially vulnerable group of minors because of the risk factors associated with their caring role. AYCs face a critical transition phase from adolescence to adulthood often with a lack of tailored support from service providers. The …
Benefit finding moderates the relationship between young carer experiences and mental well-being
Objective: Research has shown that some young carers face many negative consequences because of their caring experiences, whereas others seem to be unaffected or even report greater well-being. To understand how caring for a family member or close friend can have these different effects, this study compared benefit finding between young carers and their peers and examined its association with mental well-being. Design: We recruited 2,525 adolesce…
Research and Innovation for and with Adolescent Young Carers to Influence Policy and Practice—The European Union Funded “ME-WE” Project
Young carers are children and adolescents who provide care to other family members or friends, taking over responsibilities that are usually associated with adulthood. There is emerging but still scarce knowledge worldwide about the phenomenon of young carers and the impact of a caring role on their health, social and personal development spheres. This paper provides an overview of the main results from the ME-WE project, which is the first Europ…
Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness
Studies that have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents facing a parental illness showed inconsistent results, and none used a person-oriented approach allowing for a deeper understanding of their experience. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQoL of adolescents facing a parental illness to that of their peers, and to explore their HRQoL through a person-oriented approach. The sample consisted of 1324 adol…
Professionals’ Awareness of Young Carers in Schools
Few studies have investigated professionals' awareness of young carers (YCs). Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore school professionals' awareness of YCs. The secondary aim was to compare professionals' responses according to their occupation. A total of 2658 professionals took part in this study by completing an online questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean for the perceived age for care beginning was 10.3 years old, …
The first cross-national study of adolescent young carers aged 15–17 in six European countries
For the first time, this article will provide a cross-national profile of adolescents who provide unpaid care to their ill or disabled family members in six European countries with varied levels of awareness, policy and service provision regarding adolescent young carers. Utilising an online survey, 2,099 adolescent young carers were identified in Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. This article focuses on the impact…
The 2021 cross-national and comparative classification of in-country awareness and policy responses to ‘young carers’
Many children under the age of 18 are drawn into unpaid caring roles because they live in families where there is chronic illness, mental health problems or substance misuse, and because other alternatives are not available. Many of these children, widely referred to as ‘young carers’, provides regular and significant amounts of care, often ‘hidden’ because of the absence of awareness by professionals in the fields of education, health and social…
What do French school staff know about young carers? A qualitative study about their perceptions
Young carers (YCs) are children and adolescents who provide a significant help to family member(s) with a disease or a disability. They often remain hidden, especially in France where awareness levels and policy responses regarding YC are just emerging. Several studies show that YC often have difficulties at school because of their situation. However, school staff seems to have difficulties to identify and support YC. The aim of this study was to…
How professional support for young carers benefits from a salutogenic approach
Carers (including young carers) experiencing negative outcomes due to their caring role are more likely to report a lower sense of coherence. This article explores young carers’ support needs for support provided by professionals. A total of 20 interviews with young carers and the persons for whom they provide care were analysed by applying Antonovsky’s paradigm of salutogenesis. The dimensions of manageability, comprehensibility and meaningfulne…
Cross-national Analysis of Legislation, Policy and Service Frameworks for Adolescent Young Carers in Europe
Despite some national examinations of policy responses for young carers (YCs), this study provides a first comprehensive cross-national comparison of the different legislation, policy and service frameworks that exist to protect and support adolescent young carers (AYCs) in six European countries (Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom) and how these are enacted. Until now, research has focused on estimating numbers …
Ready and able? Professional awareness and responses to young carers in Switzerland
Pathways to Mental Well-Being in Young Carers
Although prior research has shown that young carers may perceive benefits from their challenging situation, it is unclear how and when benefit finding leads to better mental health. This study examines pathways through which benefit finding may influence mental well-being. Self-reported data were obtained from 601 adolescents aged 15–21 ( M age = 17.87, 71.9% female) who provided care for a close person with physical or mental health problems. Be…
Young Carers Research, Practice and Policy
Many children, adolescents, teenagers, and young adults have caring responsibilities for parents and family members. These young carers and young adult carers are present in every country. Their responsibilities include domestic chores as well as intimate personal care and other forms of helping which are generally seen as the responsibility of adult professionals. First, this article provides an overview and critical perspective on young carers …
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 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…
Caring in mind? Professionals’ awareness of young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland
Findings from international research emphasis the need of these young people to be identified and recognised. Therefore, a nationwide quantitative study of professionals' awareness was conducted in the Swiss context. Data were collected from professionals working in education, healthcare and social services. The study examined professionals' familiarity with the terms used to describe young people with caring responsibilities; their ability to id…
Counting Young Carers in Switzerland – A Study of Prevalence
An online survey of children in school grades 4–9 (mostly aged 10–15) was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of young carers in Switzerland using a 2‐stage stratified sampling approach. 4082 respondents were drawn from 230 schools. A total of 3991 respondents were included in the analysis and of these 307 (7.7%) were identified as young carers. The population estimate of prevalence was 7.9 per cent. This suggests that there are around…
Young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland
Although there is already general recognition of the fact that many relatives provide unpaid care for family members, there is still little awareness that children, adolescents and young adults under 25 also provide such care. Until recently, the situation of young carers and young adult carers, as those young persons are referred to in international research, has not been in the focus of professionals, research and the public in Switzerland. Bet…
You don't look for it”-A study of Swiss professionals’ awareness of young carers and their support needs
While political and public interest in providing support for family carers is growing, so called young carers and young adult carers-young persons under the ages of 18 and 25 respectively-mostly remain unrecognised. Yet, this vulnerable group is in need of special attention and support from professionals in order to get along with the situation of an ill family member and the caring duties they perform. This paper presents the results from a focu…
A cross-national and comparative classification of in-country awareness and policy responses to ‘young carers’
The reality for many families where there is chronic illness, mental health problems, disability, alcohol or substance misuse is that children under the age of 18 are involved in caring. Many of these children – known as ‘young carers’ – will be providing regular and significant care, either episodically or over many years, often ‘hidden’ to health, social care and other welfare professionals and services. These children have most often been invi…
A cross-national and comparative classification of in-country awareness and policy responses to ‘young carers’
The reality for many families where there is chronic illness, mental health problems, disability, alcohol or substance misuse is that children under the age of 18 are involved in caring. Many of these children – known as ‘young carers’ – will be providing regular and significant care, either episodically or over many years, often ‘hidden’ to health, social care and other welfare professionals and services. These children have most often been invi…
You don't look for it”-A study of Swiss professionals’ awareness of young carers and their support needs
While political and public interest in providing support for family carers is growing, so called young carers and young adult carers-young persons under the ages of 18 and 25 respectively-mostly remain unrecognised. Yet, this vulnerable group is in need of special attention and support from professionals in order to get along with the situation of an ill family member and the caring duties they perform. This paper presents the results from a focu…
Young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland
Although there is already general recognition of the fact that many relatives provide unpaid care for family members, there is still little awareness that children, adolescents and young adults under 25 also provide such care. Until recently, the situation of young carers and young adult carers, as those young persons are referred to in international research, has not been in the focus of professionals, research and the public in Switzerland. Bet…
Caring in mind? Professionals’ awareness of young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland
Findings from international research emphasis the need of these young people to be identified and recognised. Therefore, a nationwide quantitative study of professionals' awareness was conducted in the Swiss context. Data were collected from professionals working in education, healthcare and social services. The study examined professionals' familiarity with the terms used to describe young people with caring responsibilities; their ability to id…
The 2021 cross-national and comparative classification of in-country awareness and policy responses to ‘young carers’
Many children under the age of 18 are drawn into unpaid caring roles because they live in families where there is chronic illness, mental health problems or substance misuse, and because other alternatives are not available. Many of these children, widely referred to as ‘young carers’, provides regular and significant amounts of care, often ‘hidden’ because of the absence of awareness by professionals in the fields of education, health and social…
Cross-national Analysis of Legislation, Policy and Service Frameworks for Adolescent Young Carers in Europe
Despite some national examinations of policy responses for young carers (YCs), this study provides a first comprehensive cross-national comparison of the different legislation, policy and service frameworks that exist to protect and support adolescent young carers (AYCs) in six European countries (Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom) and how these are enacted. Until now, research has focused on estimating numbers …
Ready and able? Professional awareness and responses to young carers in Switzerland
Pathways to Mental Well-Being in Young Carers
Although prior research has shown that young carers may perceive benefits from their challenging situation, it is unclear how and when benefit finding leads to better mental health. This study examines pathways through which benefit finding may influence mental well-being. Self-reported data were obtained from 601 adolescents aged 15–21 ( M age = 17.87, 71.9% female) who provided care for a close person with physical or mental health problems. Be…
A cross-national and comparative classification of in-country awareness and policy responses to ‘young carers’
The reality for many families where there is chronic illness, mental health problems, disability, alcohol or substance misuse is that children under the age of 18 are involved in caring. Many of these children – known as ‘young carers’ – will be providing regular and significant care, either episodically or over many years, often ‘hidden’ to health, social care and other welfare professionals and services. These children have most often been invi…
Young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland
Although there is already general recognition of the fact that many relatives provide unpaid care for family members, there is still little awareness that children, adolescents and young adults under 25 also provide such care. Until recently, the situation of young carers and young adult carers, as those young persons are referred to in international research, has not been in the focus of professionals, research and the public in Switzerland. Bet…
You don't look for it”-A study of Swiss professionals’ awareness of young carers and their support needs
While political and public interest in providing support for family carers is growing, so called young carers and young adult carers-young persons under the ages of 18 and 25 respectively-mostly remain unrecognised. Yet, this vulnerable group is in need of special attention and support from professionals in order to get along with the situation of an ill family member and the caring duties they perform. This paper presents the results from a focu…
Counting Young Carers in Switzerland – A Study of Prevalence
An online survey of children in school grades 4–9 (mostly aged 10–15) was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of young carers in Switzerland using a 2‐stage stratified sampling approach. 4082 respondents were drawn from 230 schools. A total of 3991 respondents were included in the analysis and of these 307 (7.7%) were identified as young carers. The population estimate of prevalence was 7.9 per cent. This suggests that there are around…
Young Carers Research, Practice and Policy
Many children, adolescents, teenagers, and young adults have caring responsibilities for parents and family members. These young carers and young adult carers are present in every country. Their responsibilities include domestic chores as well as intimate personal care and other forms of helping which are generally seen as the responsibility of adult professionals. First, this article provides an overview and critical perspective on young carers …
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 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…
Caring in mind? Professionals’ awareness of young carers and young adult carers in Switzerland
Findings from international research emphasis the need of these young people to be identified and recognised. Therefore, a nationwide quantitative study of professionals' awareness was conducted in the Swiss context. Data were collected from professionals working in education, healthcare and social services. The study examined professionals' familiarity with the terms used to describe young people with caring responsibilities; their ability to id…
What do French school staff know about young carers? A qualitative study about their perceptions
Young carers (YCs) are children and adolescents who provide a significant help to family member(s) with a disease or a disability. They often remain hidden, especially in France where awareness levels and policy responses regarding YC are just emerging. Several studies show that YC often have difficulties at school because of their situation. However, school staff seems to have difficulties to identify and support YC. The aim of this study was to…
How professional support for young carers benefits from a salutogenic approach
Carers (including young carers) experiencing negative outcomes due to their caring role are more likely to report a lower sense of coherence. This article explores young carers’ support needs for support provided by professionals. A total of 20 interviews with young carers and the persons for whom they provide care were analysed by applying Antonovsky’s paradigm of salutogenesis. The dimensions of manageability, comprehensibility and meaningfulne…
Cross-national Analysis of Legislation, Policy and Service Frameworks for Adolescent Young Carers in Europe
Despite some national examinations of policy responses for young carers (YCs), this study provides a first comprehensive cross-national comparison of the different legislation, policy and service frameworks that exist to protect and support adolescent young carers (AYCs) in six European countries (Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom) and how these are enacted. Until now, research has focused on estimating numbers …
Ready and able? Professional awareness and responses to young carers in Switzerland
Pathways to Mental Well-Being in Young Carers
Although prior research has shown that young carers may perceive benefits from their challenging situation, it is unclear how and when benefit finding leads to better mental health. This study examines pathways through which benefit finding may influence mental well-being. Self-reported data were obtained from 601 adolescents aged 15–21 ( M age = 17.87, 71.9% female) who provided care for a close person with physical or mental health problems. Be…
Benefit finding moderates the relationship between young carer experiences and mental well-being
Objective: Research has shown that some young carers face many negative consequences because of their caring experiences, whereas others seem to be unaffected or even report greater well-being. To understand how caring for a family member or close friend can have these different effects, this study compared benefit finding between young carers and their peers and examined its association with mental well-being. Design: We recruited 2,525 adolesce…
Research and Innovation for and with Adolescent Young Carers to Influence Policy and Practice—The European Union Funded “ME-WE” Project
Young carers are children and adolescents who provide care to other family members or friends, taking over responsibilities that are usually associated with adulthood. There is emerging but still scarce knowledge worldwide about the phenomenon of young carers and the impact of a caring role on their health, social and personal development spheres. This paper provides an overview of the main results from the ME-WE project, which is the first Europ…
Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness
Studies that have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents facing a parental illness showed inconsistent results, and none used a person-oriented approach allowing for a deeper understanding of their experience. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQoL of adolescents facing a parental illness to that of their peers, and to explore their HRQoL through a person-oriented approach. The sample consisted of 1324 adol…
Professionals’ Awareness of Young Carers in Schools
Few studies have investigated professionals' awareness of young carers (YCs). Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore school professionals' awareness of YCs. The secondary aim was to compare professionals' responses according to their occupation. A total of 2658 professionals took part in this study by completing an online questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean for the perceived age for care beginning was 10.3 years old, …
The first cross-national study of adolescent young carers aged 15–17 in six European countries
For the first time, this article will provide a cross-national profile of adolescents who provide unpaid care to their ill or disabled family members in six European countries with varied levels of awareness, policy and service provision regarding adolescent young carers. Utilising an online survey, 2,099 adolescent young carers were identified in Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. This article focuses on the impact…
The 2021 cross-national and comparative classification of in-country awareness and policy responses to ‘young carers’
Many children under the age of 18 are drawn into unpaid caring roles because they live in families where there is chronic illness, mental health problems or substance misuse, and because other alternatives are not available. Many of these children, widely referred to as ‘young carers’, provides regular and significant amounts of care, often ‘hidden’ because of the absence of awareness by professionals in the fields of education, health and social…
Visibility as a Key Dimension to Better Health-Related Quality of Life and Mental Health
This paper examines the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and mental health of adolescent young carers (AYCs) aged 15-17 in Switzerland, based on data collected within the Horizon 2020 project 'Psychosocial support for promoting mental health and well-being among AYCs in Europe' (ME-WE). It addresses the following questions: (1) Which characteristics of AYCs are associated with lower HRQL and with higher level of mental health problems? (2) D…
Recruitment of Adolescent Young Carers to a Psychosocial Support Intervention Study in Six European Countries
Young carers provide a substantial amount of care to family members and support to friends, yet their situation has not been actively addressed in research and policy in many European countries or indeed globally. Awareness of their situation by professionals and among children and young carers themselves remains low overall. Thus, young carers remain a largely hidden group within society. This study reports and analyses the recruitment process i…
Ethical Considerations When Conducting Pan-European Research with and for Adolescent Young Carers
Adolescent young carers (AYCs) are a sub-group of young carers who carry out significant or substantial caring tasks and assume a level of responsibility which would usually be associated with an adult. They are a potentially vulnerable group of minors because of the risk factors associated with their caring role. AYCs face a critical transition phase from adolescence to adulthood often with a lack of tailored support from service providers. The …
Family Support in Illness (21 works) · Psychology (20 works) · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving (17 works) · Medicine (16 works) · Nursing (12 works) · Political science (8 works) · Social and Demographic Issues in Germany (8 works) · Psychiatry (7 works) · Developmental psychology (5 works) · Mental health (5 works)