The voice of young adults making sense of their caring childhoods: demonstrating resilience through adversity

Abstract

Caring when young can have long-term negative consequences. Recently, more nuanced accounts have revealed potential positive impacts. The aim of this study was to give voice to participants from NI to gain a better understanding of the lived experience of childhood caring. Individual interviews were conducted with six females aged between 19 and 24. Unstructured interviews were transcribed verbatim, analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and had a participatory element. Presented are findings showing four superordinate themes: Making sense of childhood experiences through adult eyes; An unpredictable and stressful childhood; Key people and their understanding; Onwards and upwards in transitioning forward. Participants reported difficulty understanding their caring experiences as children and how with age and comparison to others their knowledge increased. They detailed unpredictable, stressful childhoods involving juggling responsibilities in an attempt to cope. The quality of relationships with others appeared to influence resilience levels and their ability to manage stress. Participants were not hidden from view but often felt ignored especially at school. Participants though had a remarkable ability to spontaneously find benefit from their caring childhoods which seemed vital when deriving meaning from the experience and moving forward. Findings are discussed and future implications are recommended.