Young people who take on caring responsibilities often experience lower wellbeing, but it’s unclear when these changes begin or how long they last. This study found that young carers already had slightly lower life satisfaction two years before they started caring, and this continued for at least three years after. The impact was greater for those caring more than 10 hours a week, those from Black ethnic groups, and those from low-income households. However, becoming a carer didn’t seem to affect self-esteem or overall health. These findings highlight the need to identify and support young carers early, and to reduce the burden of care to protect their wellbeing.
Rebecca Lacey et al. | Changes in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-rated health before, during, and after becoming a young carer in the UK: a longitudinal, propensity score analysis | The Lancet Regional Health, 2025