Abstract
The health-related behaviors of adults who were child and adolescent caregivers is a neglected area of research. The purpose
of the present study was to: (1) Provide descriptive information on these former young caregivers’ adult health-related behaviors,
(2) To compare former young caregivers’ health-related behaviors to non-caregiver samples, and (3) To assess the relationship
between former young caregivers’ health-related behaviors and their mental health. Early caregiving was defined as providing
assistance with basic and/or instrumental activities of daily living to parents or adult relatives while under the age of
21. Thirty-five female caregivers and 94 female non-caregivers completed a demographic questionnaire and a measure of their
health-related behaviors. Former young caregivers and emerging adult non-caregivers showed similar health-related behaviors.
Former young caregivers did not differ from community samples of young and middle adult non-caregivers on the overall mean
score for their health-related behaviors. The former young caregiver sample differed from the emerging adult non-caregiving
sample on only one health-risk behavior, alcohol consumption. Caregivers reported drinking significantly less alcohol over
time than the emerging adult non-caregiving sample. Former young caregivers with more regular sleep patterns reported more
positive mental health and less depressive symptoms. Former young caregivers who were better able to manage their stress reported
more positive mental health and less negative mental health.
of the present study was to: (1) Provide descriptive information on these former young caregivers’ adult health-related behaviors,
(2) To compare former young caregivers’ health-related behaviors to non-caregiver samples, and (3) To assess the relationship
between former young caregivers’ health-related behaviors and their mental health. Early caregiving was defined as providing
assistance with basic and/or instrumental activities of daily living to parents or adult relatives while under the age of
21. Thirty-five female caregivers and 94 female non-caregivers completed a demographic questionnaire and a measure of their
health-related behaviors. Former young caregivers and emerging adult non-caregivers showed similar health-related behaviors.
Former young caregivers did not differ from community samples of young and middle adult non-caregivers on the overall mean
score for their health-related behaviors. The former young caregiver sample differed from the emerging adult non-caregiving
sample on only one health-risk behavior, alcohol consumption. Caregivers reported drinking significantly less alcohol over
time than the emerging adult non-caregiving sample. Former young caregivers with more regular sleep patterns reported more
positive mental health and less depressive symptoms. Former young caregivers who were better able to manage their stress reported
more positive mental health and less negative mental health.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10804-011-9140-0
- Authors
- Kim Shifren, Psychology Department, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
- Alexandra Chong, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Journal Journal of Adult Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3440
- Print ISSN 1068-0667