Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, 288 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1Z5, Canada.
Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Saint Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jul 20;20(14):6410. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20146410.
This qualitative research study is a part of a larger research project exploring the experiences of young caregivers aged 5-26 years and their families navigating the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 to 2023. Data were collected from 14 young caregivers who participated in baseline interviews. The central research question guiding this study: What was, is, and will be the impact of changing public health restrictions on young caregivers and their families during the pandemic and pandemic recovery? Seven themes emerged through analysis: (1) Navigating Care During the Height of Public Health Restrictions, (2) Neighbourhood and Built Environment During the Pandemic, (3) Perceptions Towards COVID-19 and Public Health Restrictions/Efforts, (4) The Impact of Public Health Restrictions on Relationships, (5) Mental Health Challenges of Being a Young Caregiver During a Pandemic, (6) Navigating Formal Services and Supports, and (7) Recommendations from Young Caregivers. The findings from this empirical research suggest that young caregivers found it easier to navigate their caregiving responsibilities when public health restrictions and work-from-home mandates were initially implemented; however, this later changed due to challenges in finding respite from caregiving, maintaining social connections with friends, creating personal space at home, and finding adequate replacements for programs once offered in person.
本定性研究是一个更大的研究项目的一部分，该项目旨在探索 2020 年至 2023 年间，年龄在 5 至 26 岁之间的年轻照顾者及其家庭在应对 COVID-19 大流行期间的经历。数据来自于 14 名参与基线访谈的年轻照顾者。本研究的核心研究问题是：在大流行和大流行恢复期间，不断变化的公共卫生限制对年轻照顾者及其家庭的影响、现在的影响和未来的影响是什么？通过分析得出了七个主题：（1）在公共卫生限制高峰期的护理导航，（2）大流行期间的邻里和建筑环境，（3）对 COVID-19 和公共卫生限制/努力的看法，（4）公共卫生限制对人际关系的影响，（5）大流行期间作为年轻照顾者的心理健康挑战，（6）正规服务和支持的导航，（7）年轻照顾者的建议。这项实证研究的结果表明，当最初实施公共卫生限制和居家办公命令时，年轻的照顾者发现更容易管理他们的照顾责任；然而，后来由于在寻找照顾喘息的机会、与朋友保持社会联系、在家中创造个人空间以及为曾经面对面提供的项目寻找足够的替代方案方面遇到挑战，情况发生了变化。
