Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of adolescent young carers in France, with an identification method based on the extent of caring activities including emotional support.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Methods: Between May 2018 and February 2021, 4037 adolescents (grades 10-12, mainly aged 15-17, 60.2% female) answered a self-reported questionnaire at school. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, illness/disability in the family, support provided by the adolescent (Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities, MACA-YC18, and a specific scale for emotional support), and quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10).
Results: Results showed that 42.5% of adolescents faced the illness/disability of a relative and 14.3% provided a high level of support and could be considered adolescent young carers. They were most commonly females caring for a parent. Adolescent young carers reported a lower quality of life than non carers. Results also highlighted differences in care and quality of life between adolescent young carers who shared the same household as their ill/disabled relative and those who did not, according to gender as well as type and perception of support provided.
Conclusion: Identifying adolescent young carers is a challenge. Identification methods based on the extent of caring activities seem appropriate but not entirely satisfactory. Self-identification criteria also seems important. An international consensus on the best identification methods and tools should be proposed. In France, the prevalence of adolescent young carers is high. These results highlight the crucial need to enhance awareness about adolescent young carers in France in order to identify and support them through appropriate health services policy. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Little is known about young carers in France and there is no prevalence study. However, it is difficult to know which methods and identification criteria to apply to assess the prevalence, because they differ between studies and have an impact on the prevalence observed in each country. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: The prevalence of adolescent young carers in France is high with a rate of 14.3%. Among them, 74.9% were female, 74.2% lived in the same household as their ill/disabled relative and 70.2% were aware that they provided support. Female young carers or those sharing a household with their ill/disabled relative provided higher levels of caring activities and had a lower quality of life. Adolescent young carers who were aware they provided support were less likely to have a relative with a serious/chronic physical illness but were more likely to have a relative with a mental illness, be a carer for a sibling or a grandparent and share the same household. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE IMPACT?: These results should enhance awareness about young carers in France. Health care and education professionals have a major role to play to identify and support young carers, but public policy has to sustain it. Thus, the high prevalence rates highlight the importance of this phenomenon and the need to be attentive to this hidden population. Results also suggest an international consensus should be proposed to identify young carers.