?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F13810%2F&rft.title=Hidden+Caregivers%3A+A+Literature+Review+of+Young+Caregivers+in+the+United+States&rft.creator=Champlain%2C+Kristin&rft.description=Young+caregivers+are+a+hidden+subgroup+among+the+caregiving+population.++Young+caregivers+provide+significant+assistance+(often+on+a+regular+basis)+to+relatives+or+household+members+requiring+help+due+to+illness%2C+disability%2C+or+substance+misuse.+There+is+no+consensus+at+this+time+on+the+specific+age+range+at+which+one+can+be+considered+a+%E2%80%9Cyoung+caregiver%E2%80%9D+versus+an+adult+caregiver.++Commonly%2C+the+age+range+used+to+define+young+caregivers+is+18+years+and+younger+or+25+years+and+younger.+The+prevalence+of+young+caregivers+in+the+United+States+is+estimated+to+be+1.3-1.4+million+child+caregivers+(age+8-18+years)+as+of+2005+and+represented+approximately+12-18+percent+of+the+total+caregiver+population.++Studies+suggest+that+young+caregiving+is+associated+with+increased+risk+for+depression+or+anxiety%2C+poor+academic+performance%2C+poor+socialization+or+lack+of+opportunity+and+more+barriers+to+achieving+future+goals+such+as+higher+education.++This+paper+used+a+critical+review+of+the+literature+on+young+caregivers+in+the+United+States%2C+specifically+focused+on+a+discussion+of+the+challenges+and+benefits+experienced+by+young+caregivers.++The+literature+review+found+barriers+to+services+and+future+goals+at+various+levels+of+the+Social+Ecological+Model%3A+individual%2C+interpersonal%2C+community%2C+institutional%2C+and+policy.++Within+the+literature%2C+the+common+barriers+of+positive+outcomes+typically+include%3A+mental+health+status+(rates+of+depression+or+anxiety)%2C+academic+performance%2C+caregiver+burden%2C+and+developmental+issues+(or+coping+skills).++Facilitators+of+positive+outcomes+most+often+researched+include%3A+self-esteem+or+pride%2C+perceived+familial+relationships%2C+and+coping+skills.++The+young+caregiver+population+is+likely+to+increase+as+time+goes+on+and+we+are+only+seeing+a+glimpse+of+what+is+likely+to+increase+in+a+unique+caregiver+population.++Due+smaller+family+sizes+and+childbearing+in+later+years%2C+children+still+in+their+formative+years+will+be+called+upon+their+aging+parents+for+care.+The+public+health+significance+of+identifying+the+challenges+faced+by+young+caregivers+(and+how+their+emotional+and+physical+health+is+impacted)+will+assist+in+identifying+ways+to+mitigate+the+negative+impacts+via+interventions+and+make+appropriate+policy+changes.+&rft.date=2012-09-24&rft.type=University+of+Pittsburgh+ETD&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fd-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu%2F13810%2F1%2FChamplainETDAug2012.pdf&rft.identifier=++Champlain%2C+Kristin++(2012)+Hidden+Caregivers%3A+A+Literature+Review+of+Young+Caregivers+in+the+United+States.++Master's+Thesis%2C+University+of+Pittsburgh.++++(Unpublished)++