Aging & Social Change: Fourteenth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Young adult family caregivers (age 18-34) are increasingly providing care to their older family members with chronic, disabling, or other serious health conditions. Little is known on young adult family caregivers and their resilience in the context of family interaction and resources. Utilizing the 2015 National Study of Caregiving (NOSC) data, the aim of this study is to examine the correlation of caregiver strain, with the three elements of Walsh’s (2006) Family Resilience model: beliefs, family organizational patterns, and communication processes. The results of the study found that two parameters of NOSC in particular were associated with less caregiver strain: completed trainings and enjoying being with the care recipient. In addition, the parameter ‘feeling lonely’, defined as having a few friends was found significantly associated with higher caregiver strain. The results demonstrate the importance of understanding the unique resilience factors and tailored interventions for young adult family caregivers.