Theorizing support for young carers: from invisibility to awareness

PhD student: Lena Van Bergen
Summary: Young carers are young people who provide care to another family member with a long-term illness, disability or addiction. Available research shows that this is both common and possibly problematic. Despite this, there is still a dearth in research about how to support young carers. The perspective of young carers themselves has also been neglected. They have been described as an invisible group due to the lack of awareness of young caring with professionals and volunteers in the social and educational sector. This is tied to young carers themselves seldomly identifying as a young carer. In this research project, we explore the lack of (self-)identification and awareness through the organization ZoJong!, a non-profit for and by young carers. We conduct participant observations during the activities of this organization, as well as conducting interviews and focus groups with different actors.
PhD in Social Work
Promoter(s): Rudi Roose, Stijn Vandevelde
Periode of time: October 2023 - September 2027