日本におけるヤングケアラーの概念分析

Young Carers in Japan: A Concept Analysis

要旨

　目的：「日本におけるヤングケアラー」の概念の定義と概念図を示す．

　方法：Rodgersらの概念分析の手法を用いた．和文検索データベースを使用し，関連するキーワード検索を行った結果，35文献が分析対象となった．

　結果：属性は【多様なケア】【過重な役割と責任】【家族を維持する努力】【複雑な感情】【置かれた状況への無自覚】，先行要件は【家族システムとダイナミクス】【未充足のケアニーズ】【隠された存在】，帰結は【自己存在の意味づけ】【家族内の負の円環】【子どもとしての成長発達への影響】【社会的・経済的基盤形成への影響】【社会的損失】【ケアラーの潜在化】を抽出した．

　結論：日本におけるヤングケアラーとは，『家庭で代行的・情緒的ケアなど多様なケアを行い，過重な役割と責任を担っている18歳未満の子ども．彼らは家族を維持する努力をする中で，複雑な感情を抱きつつも，自分が置かれた状況に無自覚な場合がある』と定義した．

　Objective: The purpose of this study is to present a definition and conceptual diagram of the concept of “young carers in Japan”.

　Method: The Rodgers method of concept analysis was used. Some Japanese text search databases were searched for relevant keywords, and 35 articles were identified and analyzed.

　Results: The attributes identified were Various types of care, Excessive roles and responsibilities, Striving to maintain the family, Complex emotions, and No awareness of the situation. The antecedents identified were Family system and dynamics, Unmet care needs, A concealed existence. The consequences identified were Making sense of one's own existence, A negative cycle within the family, Impact on one's growth and development as a child, Impact on building a social and economic foundation, Social loss, Carers tend to be invisible.

　Conclusion: Young carers in Japan “Children under the age of 18 who have excessive roles and responsibilities, providing a variety of proxy and mental health care at home. While striving to maintain their families, they grapple with complex emotions but are not aware of the situation they are in.” Information needs to be shared with individuals providing support to those carers and issues with and specific forms of support need to be discussed.