Health-Related Behaviors: A Study Among Former Young Caregivers

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.