Associations between young informal caring and mental health: a prospective observational study using augmented inverse probability weighting.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Across the world, many young people are supplying unpaid, informal care. There is growing evidence of the impact of this caring role on the lives of young informal carers, however there has been little quantitative analysis of the mental health impacts. This research aimed to estimate the effect of informal caring at age 14/15 years on mental health at age 18/19 years.

Method

Data was drawn from Waves 5, 6, 8 (2012-2018) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Effects of caring on mental health were assessed using augmented inverse probability weighting, with adjustment for potential confounders, and using the Kessler-10 measure of mental health. Caring was assessed with both a binary (any caring vs none), and a three category variable (no caring, less t

SUBMITTER: King T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8382993 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature