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Are We All the Same When Faced with an Ill Relative? A Person-Oriented Approach to Caring Activities and Mental Health in Emerging Adult Students

Author

Listed:
  • Basilie Chevrier

    (Aix-Marseille Univ., PSYCLE, F-13628 Aix-en-Provence, France)

  • Aurélie Untas

    (Université Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé, F-92100 Boulogne, France)

  • Géraldine Dorard

    (Université Paris Cité, Laboratoire de Psychopathologie et Processus de Santé, F-92100 Boulogne, France)

Abstract

Dealing with the illness/disability of a relative is part of everyday life for many students, who may have to take on caring responsibilities. Fulfilling a caring role during emerging adulthood has been associated with poorer mental health. This study adopts a person-oriented approach in exploring the caring experience in relation to mental health. The sample comprised 3273 students ( M age = 20.19 years, SD age = 1.89; 80.35% female) who answered a series of questionnaires. A cluster analysis identified six patterns of caregiving activities in terms of their nature and extent: few caring activities; household chores; household and financial/practical help; emotional care; sibling care; and many caring activities with emotional and personal care. A series of analyses showed that caring activities differed according to age, gender, living arrangements, financial status, the ill/disabled relative being supported, and the relative’s type of illness/disability. A multivariate analysis of covariance showed that emerging adult students with patterns featuring household chores had better mental health than those with few caring activities. Overall, our findings indicate that having an ill/disabled relative can lead an individual to take on a wide range of caring responsibilities that may have varying consequences for emerging adult students’ mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Basilie Chevrier & Aurélie Untas & Géraldine Dorard, 2022. "Are We All the Same When Faced with an Ill Relative? A Person-Oriented Approach to Caring Activities and Mental Health in Emerging Adult Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:8104-:d:853997
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Levine, C. & Hunt, G.G. & Halper, D. & Hart, A.Y. & Lautz, J. & Gould, D.A., 2005. "Young adult caregivers: A first look at an unstudied population," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(11), pages 2071-2075.
    2. Giulia Landi & Kenneth I. Pakenham & Silvana Grandi & Eliana Tossani, 2022. "Young Adult Carers during the Pandemic: The Effects of Parental Illness and Other Ill Family Members on COVID-19-Related and General Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Torild Mauseth & Esther Hjälmhult, 2016. "Adolescents' experiences on coping with parental multiple sclerosis: a grounded theory study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5-6), pages 856-865, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Araviinthansai Subramaniam & Kalyani Kirtikar Mehta, 2024. "Exploring the Lived Experiences of Caregiving for Older Family Members by Young Caregivers in Singapore: Transition, Trials, and Tribulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-27, February.
    3. Bente Storm Mowatt Haugland & Mari Hysing & Børge Sivertsen, 2023. "Does It Matter Who You Provide Care for? Mental Health and Life Satisfaction in Young Adult Carers Associated with Type of Relationship and Illness Category—A National Student Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Giulia Landi & Kenneth I. Pakenham & Roberto Cattivelli & Silvana Grandi & Eliana Tossani, 2022. "Caregiving Responsibilities and Mental Health Outcomes in Young Adult Carers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.

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