TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of a respite volunteer ‘buddy’ programme on behavioural and psychological well-being in young carers
AU - Laursen, Sisse Heiden
AU - Nissen, Karina Brix
AU - Udsen, Flemming Witt
AU - Thomsen, Helle Haslund
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Child & Family Social Work published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Young carers often face a great amount of emotional burden and have high practical and social responsibilities. The role of being a young carer is associated with behavioural, developmental, physical and psychosocial problems that may not only affect the individual in childhood but also in adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a Danish respite volunteer programme called The Buddies for Children and Youngsters Programme on young carers' (n = 49; aged 6–16) social–emotional functioning. A pre–post-design was applied, and data were collected through the parent version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), here with an impact supplement at baseline and at the end of the programme (after 4 months). The programme showed a positive impact on emotional symptoms, hyperactivity symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems, prosocial aspects and impact aspects, with mean differences values of −2.50 (p = .000), −0.62 (p = .271), −1.18 (p = .000), −0.74 (p = .008), 0.62 (p = .004) and −0.88 (p = .007), respectively. Furthermore, a large effect was found for the total difficulties score: −5.03 (p = .000). In conclusion, the programme seems promising considering its effect on young carers' social–emotional functioning. However, future research should include comparative studies with a longer duration.
AB - Young carers often face a great amount of emotional burden and have high practical and social responsibilities. The role of being a young carer is associated with behavioural, developmental, physical and psychosocial problems that may not only affect the individual in childhood but also in adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a Danish respite volunteer programme called The Buddies for Children and Youngsters Programme on young carers' (n = 49; aged 6–16) social–emotional functioning. A pre–post-design was applied, and data were collected through the parent version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), here with an impact supplement at baseline and at the end of the programme (after 4 months). The programme showed a positive impact on emotional symptoms, hyperactivity symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems, prosocial aspects and impact aspects, with mean differences values of −2.50 (p = .000), −0.62 (p = .271), −1.18 (p = .000), −0.74 (p = .008), 0.62 (p = .004) and −0.88 (p = .007), respectively. Furthermore, a large effect was found for the total difficulties score: −5.03 (p = .000). In conclusion, the programme seems promising considering its effect on young carers' social–emotional functioning. However, future research should include comparative studies with a longer duration.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147266848&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/cfs.13000
DO - 10.1111/cfs.13000
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1365-2206
VL - 28
SP - 734
EP - 752
JO - Child & Family Social Work
JF - Child & Family Social Work
IS - 3
ER -