Young Carers JSNA

This section will focus on core epidemiological issues that take account of fixed risk factors (such as age, gender, ethnicity, family history) and modifiable risk factors (such as behaviour). The wider determinants of health (such as housing, transport and environment) are also considered.

Age

Adolescents, particularly aged 16-19, show the highest prevalence. Research indicates that the likelihood of being a young carer increases with age and older adolescents are at the highest risk7.

• Early years foundation stage to Year 2: very low identification rates, research shows poor recognition in early childhood8.
• Years 3 to 6: Lower than secondary years however, many caring roles remain hidden.
• Years 7 to 11: Main concentration of identified young carers, broader statistics show caring responsibilities become more visible and heavier during adolescence7.
• Years 12 to 13 and Further Education: Identification continues to rise, wider population data shows 16-19 year olds are the age group most likely to be young carers7.

Gender

Young male and female carers are equally likely to provide informal care7, 9, 10.

Socioeconomic status

Young carers are disproportionately drawn from more socioeconomically disadvantaged or deprived backgrounds and lower socioeconomic status is a significant predictor of caring roles in youth and young adulthood10, 11, 12.

Mental health

Children who live with a parent who has a mental illness or substance misuse disorder are at most risk of becoming young carers. Parental mental illness is identified as a key risk factors linked to significantly higher emotional and mental health burden. Mental health risk stems from the person they care for as opposed to the young carer9, 13, 14.

Ethnicity

Young carers are disproportionately from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. The Children’s Society reports that young people are 1.5 times more likely to be young carers if they are from a BAME background and are more likely to face additional barriers to accessing formal support. The highest burden is observed among Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black African young people 15, 16, 17.

Vulnerable Children

There is bidirectional risk (young carers becoming vulnerable due to their caring role and vulnerable children are more likely to become young carers). Young carers emerge in households with significant vulnerability factors such as: parental mental or physical illness; parental disability; substance misuse; domestic abuse; and socioeconomic disadvantage 18, 19, 20.