Young Adult Caregivers for Older Family Members: Setting a New Research Agenda

Young adults (approximately aged 18 to 29) are frequently involved in caring for older relatives, potentially filling gaps and playing key roles in the network of caregivers. The time is ripe to synthesize the emerging literature on this topic and propose an agenda for future research. This article identifies key questions for research that will propel the field forward, including: (a) why young adult caregiving warrants distinct consideration from caregiving in midlife or later life, (b) young adult caregivers' position in the caregiving network and tasks they perform, and (c) factors that help determine who becomes a caregiver at this stage of life and who does not, with attention to race/ethnicity, and beliefs about family interdependency. We then address appraisals of caregiving stress, rewards, and potential factors that may buffer the negative impact of caregiving at this stage of life. We extend this discussion to the detriments and benefits of caregiving for well-being. We consider longer-term enduring positive and negative consequences of caregiving at this potentially transformative stage of adulthood. Throughout this article, we review many of the founding studies and scholars who have laid the groundwork in this emerging field and point out the components of existing models of caregiving that particularly apply to young adult caregivers. We conclude with suggestions for potential policies and programs to allow for young adults to engage in caregiving while also pursuing the roles and activities that align with their values and set them up for a successful adulthood.