A SHOCKING new study by researchers at University of Limerick identified an increased risk of mental health issues for young carers, with over one in 10 devoting more hours to caring than would be required in a paid job.
Up to one quarter of Irish young people provide such care, according to official figures.
Census data indicates a substantial proportion of these young carers provide over 15 hours of care per week, with approximately 12 per cent delivering more than 43 hours, exceeding the duration of a typical full-time adult work week.
According to the study, just published in The Lancet Public Health journal, caring increased young people’s risk of mental health issues over time, including depression, anxiety, and self-harm.
The research highlights the increased mental health risks for young people who provide informal care and support to family members suffering from physical or intellectual disabilities, old age, poor mental health, and substance abuse issues.
Notably, young carers who engaged in long-term or intensive caregiving duties, measured in increasing hours per week, suffer worse mental health outcomes compared to non-caring peers.
The research also revealed that young carers who were assisting with personal care (washing, toileting, etc), female carers, and carers from an ethnic minority background were at higher risk.
The study was carried out by a team of researchers at UL.
Lead author Aoife Bowman Grangel, from UL’s Department of Psychology, highlighted that health outcomes among young carers can vary considerably depending on contextual factors.
“Our previous research has shown that strong parental relationships, particularly those marked by expressions of appreciation, can help protect young carers from developing depression,” she said.
“A deeper understanding of the social factors that influence health and wellbeing is crucial for designing targeted interventions and support systems to improve outcomes for this group.”
Figures for the number of young people giving care were gleaned from data collated by the Economic and Social Research Institute.
Professor Stephen Gallagher of UL’s Department of Psychology, another senior author on the study, explained that “caring can come at a cost, and be a highly stressful experience, as the unpredictable and fluctuating nature of illness exposes young people to a range of adverse emotional, social, and developmental challenges”.
Catherine Cox of Family Carers Ireland, who partnered with UL on the research, said the research “shines a light on young carers and young adult carers and the incredible contribution they make by caring for loved ones”.
“The potential risks of young carers experiencing health issues highlighted in the study contribute evidence that should ensure that policymakers recognise young carers, acknowledging the very real challenges they face, and provide them and their families with the support they need to care safely.”
The research also looked at the effects of caring on physical health.
Dr Jennifer McMahon, another co-author and lecturer in psychology at UL, said that “while the findings in relation to physical health were inconclusive, there was some evidence that young carers may have worse health behaviours than non-carers, specifically relating to smoking and sleeping”.
