RESEARCHERS at the University of Limerick have revealed that young carers tend to have higher levels of depressive symptoms than young people who do not provide care to others.
However the study of young carers between 14 and 18 years old also found that when these young carers reported higher levels of social participation, they were more satisfied with their lives and, as such, were less depressed.
The young carers provide substantial unpaid care to a family member due to illness, disability, mental health, substance misuse or problems related to old age.
The study, published by The International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, is based on evidence from 21 EU countries including research from the Department of Psychology at the University of Limerick. The Limerick research was supported by Family Carers Ireland, a charity supporting children or adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illness, mental ill-health or addiction.
Professor Stephen Gallagher, director of the UL Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Lab, said that when analysing the predictors of depressive symptoms in these young carers, they found that when the young carers reported higher levels of social participation, this was associated with increased life satisfaction, and these in combination were protective against depressive symptoms.
“For example, when young carers had higher or comparable levels of social participation compared to those of a similar age, it increased their life satisfaction that protected against depressive symptoms. However, these protective effects were not evident at lower levels of social participation,” explained Professor Gallagher, who was study lead on the project.
Based on these findings, Professor Gallagher said that “increasing social activities among young carers may be one way of helping them cope with the challenges of caring”.
