Caregiving Responsibilities and Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adult Carers during the Covid-19 Pandemic

A Longitudinal Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15512469
AuthorsGiovanni Landi (0000-0002-2576-3528, University of Bologna, corresponding author), Kenneth I Pakenham (0000-0002-8653-4593, The University of Queensland), Roberto Cattivelli (0000-0002-5995-5456, University of Bologna), Silvana Grandi (0000-0003-3401-2301, University of Bologna), Eliana Tossani (0000-0002-6197-4496, University of Bologna, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue22
Pages15149-15149
Publication date2022-11-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph192215149
PMID36429866
OpenAlexW4309613596
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited51

This study investigated caregiving responsibilities and associated mental health outcomes in young adult carers during the COVID-19 pandemic and had three aims: (1) to investigate differences in caregiving responsibilities across two groups of young adult carers (parental illness context vs. ill non-parent family member context) relative to non-carers, (2) to identify COVID-19/lockdown correlates of caregiving responsibilities, and (3) to examine the longitudinal associations between caregiving responsibilities and mental health outcomes. Of the 1048 Italians aged 18-29 ( M age = 24.48, SD age = 2.80; 74.33% female) who consented to complete online surveys at Time 1, 813 reported no ill family member (non-carers). Young adult carers included 162 with an ill parent and 73 with an ill non-parent family member. The study included 3 time points: 740 participants completed Time 2 assessment ( M age = 24.35, SD age = 2.81; 76.76% female), while 279 completed Time 3 assessment ( M age = 24.78, SD age = 2.72; 79.93% female). Key variables measured were 13 COVID-19/lockdown factors at Times 1 and 2, caregiving responsibilities at Time 2, and mental health outcomes at Time 3 (fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, wellbeing). Two COVID-19/lockdown factors were significantly correlated with higher caregiving responsibilities: insufficient home space, and greater time spent working and learning from home. As predicted, young adult carers reported higher caregiving responsibilities than non-carers, and this effect was greater in young adults caring for an ill parent compared to young adults caring for an ill non-parent family member. As expected, irrespective of family health status, caregiving responsibilities were longitudinally related to poorer mental health outcomes, operationalised as higher fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and depression, and lower wellbeing. Elevated young adult caregiving is an emerging significant public health issue that should be addressed through a multipronged approach that includes education about young adult carer needs for personnel across all relevant sectors and flexible care plans for ill family members that include a 'whole family' biopsychosocial approach

Anxiety · Context (archaeology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Depression (economics · Disease · Family medicine · Family member · Longitudinal study · Mental health · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Young adult · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology

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