Exploring the Relationship between Family Caregiver Burnout and Predispositions for Depression and Anxiety-Related Disorders in Young Adults

Presenter

Julian Roger Justado Esmer

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Ashley Woodman, Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A89, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Family-caregiving can often be a stressful experience for one’s mental and physical health. Studies have found substantial evidence that providing care for a family member or loved one is related to an increased risk of depression and anxiety-related disorders, but less is known about this relationship among young adults. Over the past decade, it has become generally understood that those who are tasked with caring for another individual’s health may become predisposed to impaired psychological functioning and general mental health struggles. College and college-age students are a particular population of interest when it comes to the relation between caregiver burnout and mood and anxiety-related disorders. Young adults may be especially vulnerable to mental health challenges, as they are navigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Consequently, their unique set of circumstances and the potential stressors they face as caregivers make them a fitting demographic for these research objectives. This mixed-methods study will have participants complete a survey capturing the unique challenges and stressors faced by young adult caregivers, and an optional interview to provide a deeper understanding of their caregiving experience. This study will employ the diagnostic measures such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess depressive symptoms across participants; findings from both the survey and interview components of the study will provide a more comprehensive look into this population’s vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders. Subsequently, these findings can inform the field of caregiving research in a direction that would help better support young adults in this position.

Keywords

Disability, Mental Health, Caregiving, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders

Research Area

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

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