Abstract

Objective

Research has shown that some young carers face many negative consequences because of their caring experiences, whereas others seem to be unaffected or even report greater well-being. To understand how caring for a family member or close friend can have these different effects, this study compared benefit finding between young carers and their peers and examined its association with mental well-being.

Design

We recruited 2,525 adolescents aged 15–21 years (59.6% female, M_age = 17.73) through the Swiss education system. They were asked to complete measures of caring experiences, benefit finding, and mental well-being. Young carers (n = 1,137), including adolescents who currently or formerly provided care, were compared to adolescents without caring experiences (n = 1,388).

Results

Young carers had a higher level of overall benefit finding than non-carer peers, and their profiles of benefit finding differed regarding the dimensions of growth and empathy. The association between caring experiences and mental well-being was weaker when benefit finding was higher. Benefit finding dimensions were differently associated with mental well-being among young carers.

Conclusions

This study shows that caring is associated with benefit finding and suggests that engaging with past stressors in a positive way may promote resilience in young carers.

中文翻译：

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利益发现缓和了年轻照顾者经历与心理健康之间的关系

摘要

客观的

研究表明，一些年轻的护理人员由于他们的护理经历而面临许多负面后果，而其他人似乎不受影响，甚至报告说幸福感更好。为了了解照顾家庭成员或亲密朋友如何产生这些不同的影响，本研究比较了年轻照顾者和他们的同龄人之间的益处发现，并检查了其与心理健康的关系。

设计

我们通过瑞士教育系统招募了 2,525 名 15-21 岁的青少年（59.6% 为女性，M_{年龄= 17.73）。}他们被要求完成护理体验、获益发现和心理健康的测量。年轻护理者 ( n  = 1,137)，包括目前或以前提供护理的青少年，与没有护理经验的青少年 ( n  = 1,388) 进行比较。

结果

年轻护理人员比非护理人员的同龄人有更高水平的总体利益发现，并且他们的利益发现概况在成长和同理心方面存在差异。当获益发现较高时，关怀体验与心理健康之间的关联较弱。在年轻看护者中，获益维度与心理健康的相关性不同。

结论

这项研究表明，关怀与发现利益相关，并表明以积极的方式应对过去的压力源可能会提高年轻照顾者的适应能力。