Sex differences in cardiovascular outcomes and coping strategies among young carers and non-carers

Adolescence is a critical developmental period where high stress can increase cardiovascular risk. Up to 12% of adolescents in developed countries provide care to a loved one - an established chronic stressor. Research consistently finds associations between caregiving and cardiovascular health in adult caregivers. However, few studies have examined the cardiovascular effects of caregiving on adolescents, despite evidence suggesting young carers have worse physical health than their non-caring peers. Individual and psychosocial factors, such as sex and coping strategies, may further influence cardiovascular outcomes in young carers. As such, this study utilized two waves of data from the Growing Up in Ireland Study to examine how caregiving affects the cardiovascular health of males and females-measured by systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR)-at ages 17/18 and again at 20/21. Coping strategies were examined as mediators through which sex influences cardiovascular outcomes in young carers. Caregiving was not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes over time; however, sex-specific cardiovascular health and coping patterns emerged. Male young carers showed smaller increases in DBP compared with female young carers and male non-carers, while female young carers reported greater use of problem-solving and support-seeking coping strategies than male carers. These coping strategies did not mediate the association between sex and DBP among young carers. These findings highlight potential gendered pathways in young carers' physiological and coping responses to caregiving stress.