장애부모를 돌보는 가족돌봄청년(young carer)의 돌봄부담과 우울 간 관계 - 부모의 장애로 인한 삶의 부정적 변화 인식의 매개효과에 주목하여

The Relationship between Subjective Care Burden and Depression of Young Carers with Parents with Disabilities : Focusing on the Mediating Effect of the Perceptions on the Negative Life Changes Caused by Parental Disabilities

Objective: This study aimed to explore how subjective care burden affects depression of young carers of parents with disabilities, focusing on the mediating role of perceptions of young carers on the negative life changes caused by parental disabilities. Methods: This study used 212 cas es of young carers of parents with disabilities, derived from 3rd wave data of Disability and Life Dynamics Panel by Korea Disabled people’s Development Institute. Descriptive statistics, corre lation analysis, and structural equation modeling were employed; bootstrapping method was used to test the significance of indirect effect. Results: The subjective burden of young carers did not directly affect depression; however, it had a significant indirect effect on depression through perceptions on the negative life changes caused by parental disabilities. Conclusions: Based on the results, this study discussed the implications of this study by suggesting the importance of support systems for mental health of young carers, and services to lessen the care burden of young carers which consider developmental features and tasks of young carers. This study con cluded with limitations of the current study and suggestions for future studies.