Understanding how caregiving burdens affect the psychology and emotions of young carers

Caregiving in the modern era is challenging for even the most prepared adults. So, what happens when this burden falls on children?

As Japan's population ages, the number of children and young people responsible for caregiving is increasing. However, the impact of this on their health and daily lives remains not well understood.

To gain better insight, Professor Bing Niu and Dr. Ziyan Wang from Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Economics conducted two rounds of surveys, one in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and another in 2024 after the pandemic. The surveys targeted 1,581 young carers aged 15 to 19 across Japan to clarify how caregiving burdens affect the psychology and emotions of young carers.

The survey incorporated the Kessler 6-Item Psychological Distress Scale and the Positive and Negative Outcomes of Caring questionnaire as indicators to measure the degree of psychological stress and subjective responses, such as feelings and thoughts, toward caregiving. It then analyzed the actual state of the caregiving burden and its impact on carers' psychological and emotional well-being.

Results revealed that young carers with greater care responsibilities tend to experience higher stress levels, with approximately 20% of young carers in our surveys falling into the high-risk group. However, they also possesspositive emotions, such as a sense of accomplishment and pride. In particular, the 2024 survey revealed that both positive and negative emotions stemming from caregiving experience were more pronounced than in 2021.

Both positive and negative emotions were strongly expressed in the 2024 survey, which suggests that even as the burden of care persists, societal understanding and support for young carers have grown, and they themselves have begun to embrace their roles more positively."

Dr. Ziyan Wang, Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Economics

Professor Niu concluded, "It is suggested that while both positive and negative aspects exist in the caregiving experiences of young caregivers, it is crucial to develop support tailored to each individual's specific circumstances."

The findings were published in Scientific Reports.