Around a quarter of Quebec students are caregivers

A boy hugs his father as he waits to be called into the playground at Marie-Derome school in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Monday, May 11, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) (Paul Chiasson/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Students are often “invisible” caregivers, but there are many of them.

A recent study by the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) shows that 21 per cent of post-secondary students in Quebec support someone close to them.

“That’s very high,” said researcher Aude Villatte, a professor at the psychology training and research unit of the Université de Toulouse Jean Jaurès in France.

However, she is not surprised by this result since a similar rate has been found elsewhere in the world, notably in the United States, France and Australia.

The role of caregiver can begin very early in a young person’s life, according to the study carried out by the Research and Action Laboratory for People with Mental Health Problems and their Families, which is affiliated with the UQO.

On average, young people report having started to help someone close to them at the age of 10, and the extent of their responsibilities tends to increase with age.

“There are a number of young people who responded to the questionnaire, who are currently aged between 18 and 30, and who say that they have been acting as caregivers for more than 10 years. And international research shows that some children from age five onwards already take on a caregiving role,” Villatte said.

The data in the study are based on post-secondary students, but data collection will continue over the coming months with high school students.

Young people can provide a wide range of help to support the person being cared for.

For example, they can help with domestic chores, do the shopping and prepare meals, give the person a bath or help them go to the toilet, work more to support the family unit financially or provide emotional or psychological support.

Young people who take on a caregiving role usually support a relative with a mental health problem, physical illness, disability or age-related disorder.

Up to 50 hours a week devoted to their relative

Villatte, an associate professor in the psycho-education and psychology department at UQO for ten years, describes student caregivers as “invisible” because they have difficulty recognizing that they are caregivers.

“They don’t recognize themselves, and when they do, they may have difficulty talking about it for fear of judgement or the consequences for the family. Some young people are very afraid of what might happen in terms of placement if the family situation were known to the outside world,” Villatte explained.

The data show that one in three young people spends between 11 and 20 hours a week supporting one or more family members, which can climb to 50 hours a week.

Although assisting a relative brings certain benefits, such as the feeling of being helpful, it puts young people at risk of difficulties in their academic careers. It can also have an impact on their adjustment at school.

Many students interrupt their studies because of the difficulty of reconciling their responsibility as a caregiver with the demands of school, Villatte added.

In terms of health, student caregivers are also more likely to develop symptoms of anxiety and depression and to have a lower level of well-being. They also suffer more fatigue and physical ailments such as backache and headaches.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 23, 2025.