The Gerontologist
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Shifren, K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Shifren, K.
The Gerontologist 41:188-190 (2001)
© 2001 The Gerontological Society of America

Early Caregiving and Adult Depression

Good News for Young Caregivers

Kim Shifren, PhDa

a Towson University, MD

Correspondence: Kim Shifren, PhD, Psychology Building, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001. E-mail: kshifren{at}towson.edu.

Laurence G. Branch, PhD

Purpose: Limited information is available on the effects of caregiving experiences on the adult development of caregivers under 21 years old in the United States. The current study provided an examination of the effects of youthful caregiving on the mental health of these persons when adults. Design and Methods: Twelve individuals, 23 to 58 years old, were given brief phone interviews with semistructured questions, and then they completed questionnaires on their early caregiving experiences and current mental health. To be included, respondents must have provided primary caregiving assistance (i.e., bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.) for at least one parent when the caregiver was under 21 years old. Results: The findings showed that individuals were young caregivers for parents with a number of problems, ranging from dementia to drug abuse. Individuals reported more positive mental health than negative mental health, and only two individuals had scores indicative of clinical depressive symptoms. Implications: It appears that early caregiving experiences may not result in universally negative consequences in the adulthood of young caregivers.

Key Words: Adulthood • CES-D • Well-being




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Journal of Family IssuesHome page
C. A. Fruhauf, S. E. Jarrott, and K. R. Allen
Grandchildren's Perceptions of Caring for Grandparents
Journal of Family Issues, July 1, 2006; 27(7): 887 - 911.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Public HealthHome page
C. Levine, G. G. Hunt, D. Halper, A. Y. Hart, J. Lautz, and D. A. Gould
Young Adult Caregivers: A First Look at an Unstudied Population
Am J Public Health, November 1, 2005; 95(11): 2071 - 2075.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Educational and Psychological MeasurementHome page
N. O'rourke
Reliability Generalization of Responses by Care Providers to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale
Educational and Psychological Measurement, December 1, 2004; 64(6): 973 - 990.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
International Journal of Behavioral DevelopmentHome page
K. Shifren and L. V. Kachorek
Does early caregiving matter? The effects on young caregivers' adult mental health
International Journal of Behavioral Development, July 1, 2003; 27(4): 338 - 346.
[Abstract] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2001 by The Gerontological Society of America.