Young Carers’ Experiences of Transitions to Adulthood

There are more and more young careers taking over the role of family caregivers in Taiwan. Too much emphasizing on the value of filial virtue culturally has ignored how overburden they are. Past literature points out that the overburden responsibility of family caregiving for young careers might have short- and long-term consequences. Caregiving might not only jeapardy young careers’ health, school involvement, and making friends, life chances, but also in the long run disrupt their successful transitions from childhood to adulthood. This study intends to explore how difficult their transitions from childhood to adulthood. The data collecting used s qualitative approach. Six young careers who were over 18 years old were in-depth interviewed to inquire about their past caregiving experiences and their developmental process from childhood to adulthood. The results found two kinds of young careers. First, adults who were once young careers still carried on their family caregiving work. Their developmental process has been still on halt at all levels. Being adults, their planning on education, employment, or marriage were all obstructed or delayed. Second, adults who once young careers were no longer to carry on family caregiving work. Although a little bit late, their developmental process of adulthood was ignited again. They could plan for future development on education, employment, or marriage. Finally, reflections and implications on smooth transition from childhood to adulthood for young careers were included. Advocacy for public policy was also pleaded to improve service provisions for young careers.