Omsorgsbyrden: Egenskaper, forekomst og helseproblemer blant unge studenter som har omsorgsansvar for syke familiemedlemmer.

Forskere fra Universitetet i Bergen, Folkehelseinstituttet, NTNU og Helse Fonna har i denne studien undersøkt forekomst av, egenskaper ved og helsetilstand blant studenter i alderen 18 til 25 år som gir uformell omsorg til familiemedlemmer eller andre med fysiske eller psykiske sykdommer, rusmisbruk eller funksjonshemming. Data er hentet fra en nasjonal norsk undersøkelse fra 2018 blant studenter under høyere utdanning (SHoT2018-studien). Deltakerne svarte på spørsmål om omsorgsansvar, psykiske helseproblemer, søvnløshet, somatisk helse og tilfredshet med livet. Av ca. 40.000 studenter som deltok i studien, oppga 5,5 % å ha omsorgsansvar. Omsorg var forbundet med å være kvinne, enslig, ha skilte foreldre, være innvandrer og ha økonomiske vanskeligheter. Flere psykiske helseproblemer, søvnløshet, somatiske symptomer og lavere tilfredshet med livet ble funnet blant deltagere med omsorgsansvar. Antall timer omsorg var assosiert med negative helseutfall i et doseresponsmønster. Forfatterne konkluderer med at de negative helseproblemene blant disse studentene bør anerkjennes, og tilstrekkelig støtte gjøres tilgjengelig.

Publisert 17.04.2020 / Sist oppdatert 18.03.2022

The Burden of Care: A National Survey on the Prevalence, Demographic Characteristics and Health Problems Among Young Adult Carers Attending Higher Education in Norway.

Bente Storm Mowatt Haugland, Mari Hysing, Børge Sivertsen

Studien er publisert i Frontiers in Psychology

Objective:The aim of the present study was to examine prevalence, characteristics and health outcomes among young adults (18 to 25 years) who provide informal care to family members or others with physical or mental illnesses, substance misuse or disabilities.
Design: The sample was obtained from a national survey in Norway from 2018 among students in higher education (the SHoT2018-study). The current sample comprise 40,205 participants, 70.2% women, mean age 22 years (SD = 1.7).
Outcome Measures: Participants answered questions on care responsibilities, mental health problems (The Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25), insomnia (sleep questionnaire), somatic health (Somatic Symptom Scale-8), and life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale).
Results: 5.5% of the respondents reported having care responsibilities. Caring was associated with being female, single, having divorced parents, being an immigrant, and having financial difficulties. More mental health problems, insomnia, somatic symptoms, and lower life satisfaction were found among respondents with care responsibilities. Number of hours of caring was associated with negative health outcomes in a dose-response pattern.
Conclusion:Professionals within health care, social services and the educational system should be sensitized to the needs of young adults with care responsibilities for family members or others with illness, substance misuse, or disabilities. The negative health problems among these young adult carers (YACs) should be acknowledged, and adequate support made available.