‘Prevalence and characteristics of adolescent young carers in France: The challenge of identification’

Author(s): Untas, Aurélie; Jarrige, Eléonore; Vioulac, Christel; Dorard, Géraldine
Publisher: Journal of Advanced Nursing
Year Published: 2022
Resource type: Peer Reviewed Research Article

Summary:

This article uses a cross-sectional approach to explore the prevalence and characteristics of adolescent young carers in France. The study was conducted between 2018-2021 and asked 4037 young people aged 15-17 to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, illness and/or disability in the family, support provided by young person (using scales such as the Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities, MACA-YC18, and an emotional support scale), and quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10). Findings suggest that almost half of the sample had someone with illness and/or disability in the family, and 14.3% provided a high level of care support. Adolescent young carers were mostly female, reported lower quality of life compared to non-carers, and young carers within the same household reported differences in care and quality of life. The study concluded that more awareness about young carers in France is needed.

Citation:Untas, A., Jarrige, E., Vioulac, C., & Dorard, G. (2022). Prevalence and characteristics of adolescent young carers in France: The challenge of identification. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(8), 2367–2382. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15162

Keywords: N/A

Where the data was collected: France