Changes in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-rated health before, during, and after becoming a young carer in the UK: a longitudinal, propensity score analysis.

Background: The health of young carers is poorer, on average, than their peers. The timing and persistence of health and wellbeing changes around becoming a young carer are unknown. We investigated how health and wellbeing change before, during and after becoming a young carer in the UK and whether this varies by caring intensity, age, gender, ethnicity, or household income.

Methods: We used data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2009-2023) on young people aged 10-25. Outcomes were self-rated health, life satisfaction and self-esteem (8-item Rosenberg scale). We used propensity score matching to match young carers to similar non-carers and applied piecewise growth curve modelling to model health and wellbeing trajectories for young carers and non-carers. Analyses were stratified by caring intensity (hours and recipient), age, gender, household income and ethnicity. Samples varied from 2320 (self-esteem by age-group) to 4606 (self-rated health by household income).

Findings: Approximately 12% (n = 2400/16,622) of young people became young carers. Young carers had lower life satisfaction two years prior to becoming a young carer (-0.03, 95% confidence interval: -0.09, -0.01) and this difference persisted for three years after. Young carers who cared for 10 or more hours/week (-0.03, 95% confidence interval: -0.10, 0.04), those from Black ethnic groups (-0.22, 95% confidence interval: -0.38, -0.05), and those from households in the lowest fifth of income had larger differences in life satisfaction before and during becoming a young carer (-0.05, 95% confidence interval: -0.13, 0.04). We observed no differences in self-esteem or self-rated health during or after becoming a young carer.

Interpretation: These findings highlight the importance of early identification and support for young carers plus reducing the care loads of young carers to prevent declines in wellbeing.

Funding: The project has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation and the Joint Programming Initiative More Years Better Lives from the national funding body UK Economic and Social Research Council.