The Moral Resilience of Young People Who Care

Geraldine Boyle

doi:10.1080/17496535.2020.1771606

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper draws on findings from a qualitative study of the social wellbeing of young people caring for a close family member. The research makes a novel contribution to the international literature by examining the moral resilience of young adult carers. Focus groups or individual, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with fifteen young people in South-East England during 2018–2019. The paper explores whether young people with a seriously ill or disabled family member define and conduct themselves in moral terms and how they respond to the moral challenges of a caring life. It was found that the participants saw moral value in their caring role and their actions reflected a desire to provide compassionate care. Previous research into young adult carers had indicated that the caring role stimulated their political consciousness, but this study suggests that the role also strengthens their moral consciousness. However, designating girls as carers in early life shifts the moral responsibility to females and compounds gender inequity in caring. Hence, there is a need to address social and gender inequalities in care. In addition, healthcare professionals should recognise when statutory input is necessary to facilitate young people’s broader lifeplans.

Highlights

Children and young people under the age of 18 who provide regular care and emotional support to a family member who is physically or mentally ill or disabled are referred to as ‘young carers’ (Clay et al 2016)
Socio-demographic factors such as gender influence their self-image, as young men may feel that a caring role threatens their masculine identity (Rose and Cohen 2010)
The paper explores whether young people with a seriously ill or disabled family member define and conduct themselves in moral terms and how they respond to the moral challenges of a caring life

Summary

Introduction

Children and young people under the age of 18 who provide regular care and emotional support to a family member who is physically or mentally ill or disabled are referred to as ‘young carers’ (Clay et al 2016). A meta-synthesis of qualitative studies internationally identified that young carers struggled to balance caring with schoolwork and a social life (Rose and Cohen 2010). They experienced tensions in the transition to adulthood, related to their need to start studying, leave home and seek employment (McDougall, O’Connor, and Howell 2018). Socio-demographic factors such as gender influence their self-image, as young men may feel that a caring role threatens their masculine identity (Rose and Cohen 2010) Their physical and mental health may be affected. The latter emphasised that support for young adult carers should be improved to help them make positive life transitions

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