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Being a Young Carer in Portugal: The Impact of Caring on Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Meireles

    (Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento, Universidade Lusíada, 4100-348 Porto, Portugal)

  • Sofia Marques

    (Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento, Universidade Lusíada, 4100-348 Porto, Portugal)

  • Sara Faria

    (Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento, Universidade Lusíada, 4100-348 Porto, Portugal)

  • Joana Correia Lopes

    (Centro de Investigação em Psicologia para o Desenvolvimento, Universidade Lusíada, 4100-348 Porto, Portugal)

  • Ana Ribas Teixeira

    (Portincarers Associação Cuidadores Portugal, 4200-249 Porto, Portugal)

  • Bruno Alves

    (Portincarers Associação Cuidadores Portugal, 4200-249 Porto, Portugal)

  • Saul Becker

    (Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BX, UK)

Abstract

Caring for an ill or disabled relative can present significant challenges that may exceed the personal resources of the caregiver. Young carers (YCs) often take on this role, providing support to family members or friends, which can have far-reaching effects on various aspects of their lives. This study involved 235 adolescents, 106 YCs, and 129 non-carers (NCs), who completed questionnaires assessing life satisfaction, satisfaction with social support, family functioning, academic functioning, and caregiving activities. Tests of group differences (MANOVA and MANCOVA controlling for age) showed YCs had more caregiving activities than NCs (as expected) and, critically, significantly lower life satisfaction. Hierarchical regressions with the YCS subsample showed academic functioning, social support, and the negative impact of caregiving were associated with life satisfaction, and that the negative influence of caregiving was linked to family functioning and the quantity of caregiving activities. For NCs, academic functioning, satisfaction with social support, and family functioning were associated with life satisfaction. In conclusion, caregiving in adolescents appears to be linked to lower life satisfaction, but this effect is determined by their social support, academic functioning, and negative impact of caring, which in turn depends on their family functioning and amount of caring activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Meireles & Sofia Marques & Sara Faria & Joana Correia Lopes & Ana Ribas Teixeira & Bruno Alves & Saul Becker, 2023. "Being a Young Carer in Portugal: The Impact of Caring on Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(21), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:21:p:7017-:d:1273617
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francesco Barbabella & Lennart Magnusson & Licia Boccaletti & Giulia Casu & Valentina Hlebec & Irena Bolko & Feylyn Lewis & Renske Hoefman & Rosita Brolin & Sara Santini & Marco Socci & Barbara D’Amen, 2023. "Recruitment of Adolescent Young Carers to a Psychosocial Support Intervention Study in Six European Countries: Lessons Learned from the ME-WE Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Basilie Chevrier & Aurélie Untas & Géraldine Dorard, 2022. "Are We All the Same When Faced with an Ill Relative? A Person-Oriented Approach to Caring Activities and Mental Health in Emerging Adult Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Ali Eryilmaz, 2012. "A Model for Subjective Well-Being in Adolescence: Need Satisfaction and Reasons for Living," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 107(3), pages 561-574, July.
    4. Pedro J. C. Costa & Richard A. Inman & Paulo A. S. Moreira, 2022. "The Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS): Further Evidence of Factorial Structure, Reliability, and Relations with Other Indicators of Subjective Wellbeing," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(6), pages 3541-3558, December.
    5. Elena Guggiari & Marianne Fatton & Saul Becker & Feylyn Lewis & Giulia Casu & Renske Hoefman & Elizabeth Hanson & Sara Santini & Licia Boccaletti & Henk Herman Nap & Valentina Hlebec & Alexandra Wirth, 2023. "Visibility as a Key Dimension to Better Health-Related Quality of Life and Mental Health: Results of the European Union Funded “ME-WE” Online Survey Study on Adolescent Young Carers in Switzerland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-17, February.
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