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Young Adult Carers during the Pandemic: The Effects of Parental Illness and Other Ill Family Members on COVID-19-Related and General Mental Health Outcomes

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  • Giulia Landi

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy)

  • Kenneth I. Pakenham

    (School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia)

  • Silvana Grandi

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy)

  • Eliana Tossani

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Laboratory of Psychosomatics and Clinimetrics, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy)

Abstract

The mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult carers have been neglected. This study aimed to identify COVID-19 related risk factors for young adult carers and to investigate their mental health relative to non-carer peers. Of the 1823 Italians aged 18–29 who completed an online survey, 1458 reported no ill family member (non-carers). Young adult carers included 268 with an ill parent, and 97 with an ill non-parent family member. Two mental health outcome categories were measured: COVID-19-related (risky health behaviors, loneliness, home violence, fear of COVID-19) and general (anxiety, depression, wellbeing). Six COVID-19 related risk factors were significantly correlated with poorer mental health in young adult carers. These factors constituted a COVID-19 Context Index. Compared to non-carers, young adult carers reported poorer mental health across all outcomes, as expected. The prediction that young adult carers caring for an ill parent would report poorer mental health than those caring for ill non-parent family members was evident only for the COVID-19-related mental health outcomes. The elevated rates of clinically significant distress and pandemic-related mental health problems among young adult carers highlight this group as a priority for mental health promotion interventions and whole-of-family support across multiple sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulia Landi & Kenneth I. Pakenham & Silvana Grandi & Eliana Tossani, 2022. "Young Adult Carers during the Pandemic: The Effects of Parental Illness and Other Ill Family Members on COVID-19-Related and General Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3391-:d:770373
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hinke M. van der Werf & Marie Louise A. Luttik & Alice de Boer & Petrie F. Roodbol & Wolter Paans, 2022. "Growing up with a Chronically Ill Family Member—The Impact on and Support Needs of Young Adult Carers: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Julie Y Moberg & Dorte Larsen & Anne Brødsgaard, 2017. "Striving for balance between caring and restraint: young adults' experiences with parental multiple sclerosis," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(9-10), pages 1363-1374, May.
    3. Ricardo Rodrigues & Cassandra Simmons & Andrea E. Schmidt & Nadia Steiber, 2021. "Care in times of COVID-19: the impact of the pandemic on informal caregiving in Austria," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 195-205, June.
    4. Giulia Landi & Kenneth Ian Pakenham & Mariagrazia Benassi & Sara Giovagnoli & Eliana Tossani & Silvana Grandi, 2021. "A Model of the Effects of Parental Illness on Youth Adjustment and Family Functioning: The Moderating Effects of Psychological Flexibility on Youth Caregiving and Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, May.
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    Cited by:

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    5. Araviinthansai Subramaniam & Kalyani Kirtikar Mehta, 2024. "Exploring the Lived Experiences of Caregiving for Older Family Members by Young Caregivers in Singapore: Transition, Trials, and Tribulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1, February.
    6. Simone A. de Roos & Jurjen Iedema & Alice H. de Boer, 2022. "Quality of Life of Schoolchildren Living with a Long-Term Sick Parent: The Role of Tasks at Home, Life Circumstances and Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Giulia Landi & Kenneth I. Pakenham & Roberto Cattivelli & Silvana Grandi & Eliana Tossani, 2022. "Caregiving Responsibilities and Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adult Carers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.

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