Young Carer Perception of Control: Results of a Phenomenology with a Mixed Sample of Young Carers Accessing Support and Unknown to Services

Abstract

Identification challenges have resulted in young carers research largely being conducted with those who access support. Positive and negative impacts have been evidenced but there remains little consideration of the wider population. This phenomenology defines young carers as a spectrum of children with different experiences and aims to study the larger group. Participants were recruited from schools and projects, resulting in a mixed sample of young carers who were accessing support but also those who were unknown to services. Participants attended three interviews that initially gathered data on their caring role and family circumstances, before focusing on their health and well-being in the context of change. All interviews were transcribed and analysed at a whole-text and in-depth level to identify shared understanding. A study of the wider spectrum enabled the emergence of perception of control over their caring responsibilities as key to routine development. Although high levels of control helped some participants manage their roles, threats to control were identified, including instability in the care receiver’s condition, excessive caring and medical tasks. The original findings demonstrate how researching the wider spectrum can aid understanding of problematic care, and highlights the importance of recruiting young carers as a hard-to-reach group.