Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

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

  • Published:
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  1. Bethesda, MD. National Alliance for Caregiving/AARP Public Policy Institute. Caregiving in the US: 2015 Report, 2015. http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2015/caregiving-in-the-united-states-2015-report-revised.pdf

  2. Shahly V, Chatterji S, Gruber MJ, et al. Cross-national differences in the prevalence and correlates of burden among older family caregivers in the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Psychological Medicine, 2013, 43: 865–879.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Cohen D, Eisdorfer C. An integrated textbook of geriatric mental health. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gitlin, LN, Schulz R. Family caregiving of older adults. In TR Prohaska, LA Anderson, RH Binstock (Eds.). Public health for an aging society. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Roth DL, Fredman L, Haley WE. Informal caregiving and its impact on health: a reappraisal from population-based studies. The Gerontologist, 2015, 55: 309–319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schulz R. Current issues in informal caregiving research: prevalence, health effects, and intervention strategies. In H Lavretsky, M Sajatovic, CF Reynolds III (Eds.). Late-life mood disorders, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp. 236-253.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bonnie RJ, Stroud C, Breiner H. Investing in the health and well-being of young adults. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: a theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist 2000; 55(5): 469.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Arnett JJ, Tanner JL (Eds). Emerging adults in America: coming of age in the 21st century. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: the winding road from the late teens through the twenties. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  11. Tanner J, Yabiku S. Conclusion: the economics of young adulthood—one future or two. In: A Booth, AC Crouter, MJ Shanahan (Eds). Transitions to adulthood in a changing economy: no work, no family, no future, Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999, pp. 254-268.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Becker S, Dearden C. Carers. Research Matters 2004; 18: 11-18.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Becker F, Becker S. Young adult carers in the UK: experiences, needs and services for carers aged 16-24. Essex, UK: The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Levine C, Hunt GG, Halper D, et al. Young adult caregivers: a first look at an unstudied population. American Journal of Public Health 2005; 95(11): 2071-2075.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Baus R, Dysart-Gale D, Haven P. Caregiving and social support: a twenty-first century challenge for college students. Communication Quarterly 2005; 53, pp. 125-142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Dahlberg L, Demack S, Bambra C. Age and gender of informal carers: a population-based study in the U.K. Health and Social Care in the Community 2007; 15(5): 439-445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gillen MC, Roland C. The link between gender and depression in young adults providing care for older family members. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision 2011; 3(1): 50-62.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Radloff LS. The CES-D Scale: a self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Journal of Applied Psychological Measurement 1977; 1: 385–401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Shifren K, Kachorek L. Does early caregiving matter? The effects on young caregivers’ adult mental health. International Journal of Behavioral Development 2003; 27: 338-346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Dellman-Jenkins M, Blankemeyer M, Pinkard O. Young adult children and grandchildren in primary caregiver roles to older relatives and their service needs. Family Relations 2000; 49: 177–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Dellman-Jenkins M, Blankemeyer M, Pinkard O. Incorporating the elder caregiving role into the developmental tasks of young adulthood. International Journal of Aging and Human Development 2001; 52(1): 1-18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Rutter M. Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 1987: 57(3): 316-331.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dumont M, Provost M. Resilience in adolescents: protective role of social support, coping strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experience of stress and depression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 1999; 28(3): 343-363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Nima A, Rosenberg P, Archer T, et al. Anxiety, affect, self-esteem, and stress: mediation and moderation effects on depression. PLoS ONE 2013: 8(9): 1-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Pakenham K, Bursnall S, Chiu J, et al. The psychosocial impact of caregiving on young people who have a parent with an illness or disability: comparisons between youth caregivers and non-caregivers. Rehabilitation Psychology 2006; 51(2): 113-126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Spielberger CD, Gorsuch RL. State-trait anxiety inventory for adults: manual and sample: manual, instrument and scoring guide. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rosenberg M. Society and the adolescent self-image: revised edition. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Conner-Smith J, Compas B, Wadsworth M, et al. Responses to stress in adolescence: measurement of coping and involuntary responses to stress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000; 68: 976–992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Tilton SR. Review of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). News Notes 2008; 48(2): 1-3.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sinclair SJ, Blais MA, Gansler DA, et al. Psychometric properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: overall and across demographic groups living within the United States. Evaluation and the Health Professions 2010; 33: 56-80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Carver C, Scheier M, Weintraub J. Assessing coping strategies: a theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989; 56: 267-283.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cohen J: Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ, Erlbaum, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Dellmann-Jenkins M, Blankemeyer M. Emerging and young adulthood and caregiving. In K Shifren, Kim (Ed). How caregiving affects development: psychological implications for child, adolescent, and adult caregivers. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2009, pp. 93-117.

  34. Dellmann-Jenkins M, Brittain L. Young adults’ attitudes towards filial responsibility and actual assistance to elderly family members. Journal of Applied Gerontology 2003; 23: 214–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Brown GW, Andrews B, Harris T, et al. Social support, self-esteem and depression. Psychological Medicine 1986; 16(04): 813-831.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Greene J, Bina R, Gum, A. Interventions to increase retention in mental health services: a systematic review. Psychiatric Services: in press.

  37. Tutty S, Spangler DL, Poppleton LE, et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral teletherapy in depressed adults. Behavior Therapy 2010; 41(2): 229-236.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Eisdorfer C, Czaja SJ, Loewenstein DA, et al. The effect of a family therapy and technology-based intervention on caregiver depression. The Gerontologist 2003; 43(4): 521-531.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

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
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donna Cohen PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Constance Siskowski RN, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peter Toyinbo MBChB, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donna Cohen PhD.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

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

Keywords