Table 1.

Summary of studies reviewed

Citation	Study design, country and sample	Results	Conclusion
Leu et al54 (n = 30)	Semi-structured interviews Switzerland 16 young carers aged 10–17 years 14 young carers aged 18–25 years	Tasks depended on nature of illness/impairment and availability of other family carers. Intensity varied from part- to full-time responsibility	Highlighted importance of communication with family, professionals and peers
Millenaar et al53 (n = 14)	Semi-structured interviews The Netherlands 14 children aged 15–27 years living with a parent with young-onset dementia (YOD)	Divided into three themes that demonstrated effects of dementia on daily life, different ways of coping, and children's need for care and support	In addition to practical information, more accessible and specific information about diagnosis and course of YOD needed to provide better understanding for children. Underlined need for personal, family-centred approach.
Packenham and Cox29 (n = 2474)	Questionnaire Survey Australia 2474 youth aged 9–20 years (‘healthy family’ n = 1768, parental illness n = 336, other family member illness n = 254, both parental and other family member illness n = 116)	Presence of any family member with illness associated with greater risk of mental health difficulties for youth. Risk elevated if ill family member is parent and has mental illness or substance misuse	Serious health problems within household adversely affect youth adjustment
Stamatopoulos38 (n = 15)	Two focus groups and one in-depth interview Canada 15 young carers aged 15–19 years	Evidence for unique ‘young carer penalty’	Ongoing youth caregiving constitutes a form of hidden labour that carries with it a range of benefits and penalties
Tseliou et al39 (n = 19 621)	Census-based mortality linkage study Northern Ireland Caregivers aged 5–24 years	Young caregivers more likely than non-caregiving peers to report chronic poor mental health. They also differed from older caregivers and were at significantly higher mortality risk than peers. Dose-response relationship between hours devoted to caregiving and mortality risk evident	Young caregivers at significantly increased risk of poor health outcomes