Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth and Young Adult Caregivers

A growing proportion of individuals provide unpaid care to family members and friends (i.e., are family caregivers). Among younger individuals, an estimated 12.7 million young adults (ages 18-34) and 5.4 million youth (aged <18) are family caregivers. As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased disability and comorbidities, it follows an increasing number of young adults and youths may undertake the role of family caregiver. Potential increases in young adult/youth caregiving responsibilities are of major concern because caregiving is associated with adverse mental, physical, and financial outcomes. Additionally, because the pandemic has disproportionately impacted historically marginalized communities, younger adults/youth of historically marginalized populations may  disproportionately become family caregivers; thus, existing mental, physical, and financial disparities may be exacerbated. Little evidence exists quantifying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the proportion of young adults/youths acting as caregivers and the intensity of their caregiving. The overall objectives of this pilot study are to estimate the prevalence of and describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult/youth caregivers. This research will advance
our understanding of young adult/youths acting as family caregivers.