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Background <p>There are 2.4&#xa0;million family caregivers under the age of 45&#xa0;years in Germany. So far, the needs of this group have been underrepresented in research. The influence of a&#xa0;care situation within their own family and the double care workload on changing expectations of young family caregivers has not yet been investigated.</p> Objective <p>The aim of the study was to find out the inner experience of self-perception and role perception of young family caregivers.</p> Material and methods <p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare experts (<i>n</i> = 17) and young carers (18–45&#xa0;years, <i>n</i> = 26) and analyzed using structured qualitative content analysis following Kuckartz’s approach.</p> Results <p>The interviewees perceived clear role conflicts arising from different expectations on their person. In some families the care situation leads to a&#xa0;reversal of the parent-child role, so that young caring relatives undertake parental tasks. The gender of the caregiver does not play any role in this situation. The topic of role identification has not yet been comprehensively integrated into counselling situations. Professional providers of support services should help young carers of both genders to identify their roles and establish appropriate services.</p> Conclusion <p>When the data were analyzed and refined, three new topics emerged: Some young carers feel obliged to provide care (alone), the roles are sometimes reversed within the family relationship and they have problems separating themselves from the care situation. Support services do not currently offer sufficient support for the identified challenges. Healthcare professionals should develop interventions to help young carers to enhance the self-perception and role perception and reduce the feeling of being obliged to provide care. In this way the quality of life of young carers can be improved.</p>

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Zwischen „Mutterpflichten“ und „einfach nur Sohn sein“

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月17日

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  • Anna Kaltenbach,
  • Nina Meng,
  • Ulrike Lindwedel,
  • Patrick Jahn,
  • Peter König

摘要

Background

There are 2.4 million family caregivers under the age of 45 years in Germany. So far, the needs of this group have been underrepresented in research. The influence of a care situation within their own family and the double care workload on changing expectations of young family caregivers has not yet been investigated.

Objective

The aim of the study was to find out the inner experience of self-perception and role perception of young family caregivers.

Material and methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare experts (n = 17) and young carers (18–45 years, n = 26) and analyzed using structured qualitative content analysis following Kuckartz’s approach.

Results

The interviewees perceived clear role conflicts arising from different expectations on their person. In some families the care situation leads to a reversal of the parent-child role, so that young caring relatives undertake parental tasks. The gender of the caregiver does not play any role in this situation. The topic of role identification has not yet been comprehensively integrated into counselling situations. Professional providers of support services should help young carers of both genders to identify their roles and establish appropriate services.

Conclusion

When the data were analyzed and refined, three new topics emerged: Some young carers feel obliged to provide care (alone), the roles are sometimes reversed within the family relationship and they have problems separating themselves from the care situation. Support services do not currently offer sufficient support for the identified challenges. Healthcare professionals should develop interventions to help young carers to enhance the self-perception and role perception and reduce the feeling of being obliged to provide care. In this way the quality of life of young carers can be improved.