Predictors of depression in young carers: a population based longitudinal study

ABSTRACT

Caregiving in adolescence, specifically when directed towards a parent, is associated with increased depression. This study examines whether young carers caring for their parents are more likely to be depressed than those caring for other family members and non-caring youth. Using data from two waves of the Growing Up in Ireland study (N = 3,312), the above associations were examined cross-sectionally (Aged 17; T1), and longitudinally (Aged 20; T2). The role of parent and peer relationship quality in predicting depression was also examined. Compared to non-carers, carers of parents were 3.67 times more likely to be depressed at T1, but not at T2. Moreover, young carers of parents who were depressed reported lower peer attachments, as well as lower quality relationships with their parents. Logistic regression analyses showed these relationships to be predictive of depression. This research is discussed in terms of supporting young carers from a family-based perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregiving
• depression
• mental health
• relationship quality
• social support
• young carer

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. An example of an item used to assess intimacy is ‘How often do you tell them what you’re thinking?’. One item used to assess appreciation is ‘Does the following person express recognition for things you’ve done?’. An item assessing conflict asked, ‘How often are you and this person angry or annoyed at one another?’. FOLW as assessed using items such as ‘I’m afraid they think I’m silly or stupid if I make a mistake’.

2. Participants are asked to rate how often in the past 2 weeks they felt a certain way. One item used in this scale is ‘I felt miserable or unhappy’.

3. One item used in this scale is ‘I felt sad’.

4. The sample is weighted to account for the young person’s gender, level of education of the primary caregiver, family type, number of children in the household at age 9, household social class, household equivalized income quintile, work status of the primary caregiver, and the young person’s score on the Drumcondra reading test at 9 years old.

5. The exact statistic has been suppressed due to the database gatekeepers’ criteria on data confidentiality.

6. The exact statistic has been suppressed due to the database gatekeepers’ criteria on data confidentiality.

7. Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). It is managed by DCEDIY in association with the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Results in this report are based on analyses of data from Research Microdata Files provided by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Neither the CSO nor DCEDIY take any responsibility for the views expressed or the outputs generated from these analyses.

8. Due to regulations regarding data confidentiality, the percentage of CPs who were depressed at T2 has been suppressed.

Additional information

Funding

The research conducted in this publication was funded by the Irish Research Council under grant number [GOIPG/2023/2478]

Notes on contributors

Aoife Bowman Grangel

Aoife Bowman Grangel is a PhD student with an interest in the health and well-being of young carers

Jennifer McMahon

Dr Jennifer McMahon is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology who specialises in youth and adolescent mental health

Nikki Dunne

Dr Nikki Dunne is Research Manager with Family Carers Ireland

Stephen Gallagher

Stephen Gallagher is an Associate Professor of Health Psychology with a special interest on health and well-being of family caregivers