Impact of Caregiving During Emerging Adulthood on Frequent Mental Distress, Smoking, and Drinking Behaviors: United States, 2015-2017.

Abstract

<i>Objectives.</i> To examine associations between caregiving mental or behavioral health outcomes among emerging US adults, defined as persons aged 18 to 25 years.<i>Methods.</i> The study sample included emerging adult respondents to the 2015-2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System's caregiving module. Exposures were caregiver (n = 3087), expectant caregiver (n = 2303), and noncaregiver (n = 12 216) status. Expectant caregivers were defined as persons not currently providing care but anticipating doing so within the next 2 years. Outcomes included frequent mental distress (FMD), drinking (binge or heavy), and current smoking (cigarette or e-cigarette use). We used robust Poisson regression to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We adjusted all models for income.<i>Results.</i> Caregivers had a similar prevalence of FMD when compared with both expectant caregivers (APR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.28, 2.17) and noncaregivers (APR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.23, 1.82). Caregivers had a higher prevalence of current cigarette smoking compared with noncaregivers (APR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.21, 1.71).<i>Conclusions.</i> Among emerging adults, providing care is associated with poorer mental health. Point estimates looking at FMD were higher when we compared caregivers with expectant caregivers, suggesting a difference in exchangeability between comparison groups.<i>Public Health Implications.</i> This study highlights the importance of including emerging adults in caregiving research.