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Show THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS The Next Generation of Caregivers: A Look at the Population of Young Adult Caregivers Carla R. Hickenlooper (Rebecca L. Utz) Department of Sociology University of Utah Background and Significance: As the baby boomer generation continues to age, caregiving remains a hot topic in the fields of gerontology and social sciences. With 52 million informal and family caregivers in the U.S. (Health and Human services, 1998) providing care to those over the age of twenty who is ill or disabled; not only are questions as to how the medical and day-to-day care will be met arise but questions about the mental and physical health of the caregiver gain importance as well. Despite the vast amounts of research that has been conducted on caregivers (including their family life, employment, and respite time), the majority of researchers have failed to acknowledge let alone investigate the increasing amount of young caregivers. Objectives: To examine, identify, and explore the population of young adults, age 18-39 who are currently acting as a primary caregiver to sick or disabled family members. Methods and design: Due to the limited amount of literature available on young caregivers and even smaller amount on the use of respite in young caregivers this study will be comprised of an extensive literature review to identify a starting point for further study. This will be accomplished through identifying the reasons for the increased need of young caregivers, recognizing what responsibilities they have, and determining what the immediate impacts are which they face while providing care. Results: A major finding in this literature review is that a sparse amount of information and research results are available on the population of young caregivers. Much of the research that has been conducted on caregiving focuses on the middle age and older adult population. The small amount of research that is available on young caregivers remains in the beginning stages of exploring the causes and implications of the growing number of young caregivers. As a result of these findings further research was initiated identifying and interviewing young caregivers via internet journals and web blogs. Carla R. Hickenlooper Rebecca L Utz 34 |