About the study
This project aims to provide information on young carers in Finland. In this project we define young carers as young people aged 15-24 who provide care for a family member or other person close to them who has a serious illness, disability, injury, mental health disorder or substance abuse problem, or who is very old.
In this study we aim to: 1) provide understanding on how young carers’ caring role shapes their life course transitions during adolescence and emerging adulthood, 2) explore how the caregiving role of young people shapes how care is (re)organised within families and close relationships, and 3) analyze the support that young people receive for caring.
Young carers’ care work is intertwined with considerable time-related, physical, psychological and/or emotional requirements that are in conflict with the current normative cultural ideals considering adolescence and emerging adulthood. The relation between adolescence and care is strained, because care requires orienting towards other people, whereas adolescence is often viewed as a time that is characterised with orienting towards oneself and focusing on freedom, exploring your own identity and expressing yourself.
Young carers constitute a significant amount of both of the youth in Finland and the people who provide care for a family member or other person close to them. Still, the questions regarding young carers have remained largely invisible in political decision-making, legislation, services and research in Finland. Information on young carers is needed for example for creating both appropriate services for young carers and adequate practices for professionals.
Are you interested in collaboration or for example making a degree project as a part of the project? Do you have questions considering participation? You can contact the project leader Tiina Sihto.
