What characterizes adolescent young carers? A multigroup comparative study.

CONTEXT: To identify the characteristics of adolescent young carers (AYCs), studies in the literature have compared them with non-AYCs, but without considering that in the latter group, some face the illness of a relative whereas others do not. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were (1) to identify the characteristics of AYCs as compared with adolescents who are not young carers but are facing the illness/disability of a relative, or adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative, and (2) to identify factors associated with being a carer within adolescents facing a relative illness. METHODS: A total of 4000 high school students (grades 10-12, mainly aged 15-17 years, 568 identified as AYCs, 1200 as adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer and 2232 as adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative) completed a self-reported questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, illness/disability in the family, caregiving activities (MACA-YC18 and specific emotional support scale), quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10) and mental health (GHQ-12). Chi-square tests, ANOVAs and logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: AYCs scored lower on the quality-of-life measure compared with adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative (p < .001) and had poorer mental health compared with adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer and adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative (p < .001). Logistic regressions showed that youth were more at risk to be an AYC when they were females (p < .001), when they had an extracurricular job (p < .001), spoke another language at home (p < .01), had siblings and were one of the oldest siblings (p < .001), and when the relative had a serious or chronic physical illness (p < .001) and lived with the youth (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of distinguishing AYCs, adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer and adolescents not facing the illness/disability of a relative to better describe AYCs, recognizing that as the level of care provided might change over time, adolescents facing the illness/disability of a relative without being a carer could become AYCs or inversely. The factors that emerged could be used by professionals to better identify AYCs.

Young carers supporting a relative with cancer: What is the healthcare professionals' knowledge in France? An exploratory study.

PURPOSE: Many children and adolescents support relatives with cancer. However, literature about young carers (YCs) shows a lack of awareness among professionals, especially in oncology. This quantitative study aims to explore the level of knowledge and perceptions of healthcare professionals working with cancer patients about the situations and characteristics of YCs. METHODS: 395 professionals participated in an online survey. Professionals reported sociodemographic and professional information and answered several questions evaluating their perceptions about YCs, such as the types of support provided and the consequences of being a YC. Descriptive analysis and group comparisons (Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests) by sex, occupation, and patients treated (adult and/or pediatric) are performed on the data collected. RESULTS: Overall, per the literature on YCs, professionals provide an adequate description of what a YC can be, even though one in two professionals have never heard the term. Several differences are observed: Men mention fewer types of support that YCs can provide, while women report more negative consequences of being a YC; psychologists and social workers report fewer positive impacts for these young people than the other professionals; professionals who work with pediatric patients mention fewer negative consequences than those who work with adults. CONCLUSION: Oncology healthcare professionals have sufficient awareness of YCs; however, several professionals struggle to fully understand the situation of YCs. These findings underline the need for awareness programs in oncology to improve health professionals' understanding of YCs and enhance their identification and support.

Prevalence and quality of life of 11-15-year-old adolescent young carers in France: a school-based study.

Our study aimed to establish the prevalence of adolescent young carers (AYCs) among 11-15-year-old French adolescents and explore the impacts of caring on these youths through a comprehensive evaluation of their quality of life. A total of 1983 middle school pupils (mean age = 12.89; 56.23% females) completed self-reported questionnaires evaluating their sociodemographic characteristics, illness/disability in their family, caring activities (MACA-YC18), quality of life (KIDSCREEN-52), perceived health, and academic performance. Descriptive analyses, Chi-square tests of independence, Student's t-tests, and analysis of variance and of covariance were conducted. The results showed that 12.25% of middle school pupils were AYCs. They were mostly females, coming from disadvantaged economic backgrounds. The ill/disabled relative was typically a parent, and 23.87% of respondents reported having more than one ill/disabled relative. The AYCs more often declared an illness or a disability and reported lower quality of life scores than their peers in several dimensions: Physical Well-Being, Psychological Well-Being, Moods and Emotions, Self-Perception, Autonomy, Relations with Parents and Home Life, Financial Resources, School Environment, Social Acceptance. No differences were identified in the Social Support and Peers dimension. Given the high prevalence of AYCs in middle schools and the impact of the situation on their lives, special support should be provided for AYCs, and professionals at school should be trained to better identify and assist AYCs.

[Representations of co-parenthood among primiparous and multiparous fathers-to-be]. / Représentations de la coparentalité des futurs pères primipares et multipares.

From the moment they become pregnant, future parents anticipate how they will coordinate, support and divide the tasks related to their child. This is known as co-parenting. Research carried out in three french gynaecology-obstetrics departments and in social network examined fathers' perceptions of co-parenthood and sought to determine whether these were in line with scientific conceptions of the concept.

Chronic kidney disease and nephrological practices in France: lessons from the CKD-REIN cohort, 2013-2023 / Maladie rénale chronique et pratiques néphrologiques en France : leçons de la cohorte CKD-REIN, 2013-2023

Launched in 2013 supported by the Program "Cohorts ­ Investments for the Future", the CKD-REIN (Chronic Kidney Disease ­ Renal Epidemiology and Information Network) study is a prospective cohort that included and followed for 5 years more than 3000 patients with moderate or advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), from 40 nationally representative nephrology clinics. A large amount of data was collected on CKD and its treatments, patient social characteristics and reported outcomes, and nephrology practices and services. A total of 170,000 blood and urine samples were collected and stored in a central biobank. Coordinated with the CKD outcomes and practice pattern study (CKDopps) and collaborating with the international Network of CKD cohorts (iNETCKD), CKD-REIN contributes to the understanding of CKD and the positioning of France with respect to CKD epidemiology and care in the world. This review highlights major findings from the cohort, and their potential implications for clinical practices and the health system, grouped into the following themes: (1) the complexity of patients with CKD; (2) adherence to clinical guidelines; (3) treatment practices and drug risk; (4) acute on chronic kidney disease; (5) CKD metabolic complications; (6) prediction of kidney failure; (7) sex differences in CKD; (8) patient perspective on CKD; (9) transition to kidney failure and replacement therapy; (10) conservative care.

Lancée en 2013 grâce au Programme « Cohortes ­ Investissements d'Avenir ¼, l'étude CKD-REIN (Chronic Kidney Disease ­ Renal Epidemiology and Information Network) est une cohorte prospective qui a inclus et suivi pendant cinq ans plus de 3 000 patients avec une maladie rénale chronique (MRC) modérée ou avancée, dans 40 consultations de néphrologie, représentatives nationalement. Un grand nombre de données ont été collectées sur la MRC et ses traitements, les caractéristiques sociales et la santé perçue des patients, les pratiques et l'organisation des services de néphrologie. Une biothèque de 170 000 échantillons de sang et d'urine a été constituée et stockée dans une biobanque centrale. Coordonnée avec l'étude Chronic Kidney Disease outcomes and practice pattern study (CKDopps) et collaborant avec l'International Network of CKD cohorts (iNET-CKD), CKD-REIN contribue à l'avancée des connaissances et au positionnement de la France dans le domaine de l'épidémiologie de la MRC et des pratiques dans le monde. Cette revue fait le point des faits marquants de la cohorte, et de leur implication potentielle pour la clinique et le système de santé, regroupés par thème : (1) la complexité des patients avec une MRC ; (2) l'adhésion aux recommandations cliniques ; (3) les pratiques thérapeutiques et le risque médicamenteux ; (4) l'insuffisance rénale aiguë dans la MRC ; (5) l'évolution des complications métaboliques ; (6) la prédiction de la défaillance rénale ; (7) les différences hommes-femmes ; (8) le point de vue des patients sur la MRC ; (9) la transition vers la défaillance rénale et le traitement de suppléance ; (10) le traitement conservateur.

The experience of relatives and friends of patients with moderate to advanced chronic kidney disease: Insights from the CKD-REIN cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The transition from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to kidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT; i.e., dialysis or transplantation) to sustain life is a stressful event for patients. Families play a role in patients' treatment decision-making, but little is known about how they are involved. This study aimed to explore the experience of CKD among relatives and friends, their views and involvement in KRT choice. DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study among 56 relatives or friends of patients with moderate to advanced CKD who were enrolled in the CKD-REIN cohort study. A psychologist conducted semi-structured interviews about their experience with CKD, treatment decision-making and their role in this process. Data were analysed using statistical text analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 56.4 ± 14 years; 75% were women, 61% were patients' partners and 48% had a relative or friend with stage G4 CKD. The analysis yielded four lexical classes: listeners with an opinion, coping with CKD on a daily basis, narrating patients' nephrological monitoring and emotions behind facts. Participants reported a listening role in the decision-making period and information needs. Some reported that CKD had no impact on their own daily lives, but others talked about its current and future physical, psychological and social consequences on them, the patients and their relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Most relatives/friends reported having little influence on KRT decision-making but expressed opinions on these treatments. Including relatives/friends in education on KRT and providing them with decision aids, especially when family members are supportive, may allow for more suitable decisions.

Encountering young caregivers: Attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals caring for cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer and its treatments severely limit patients' daily lives. Relatives of patients may provide caregiving assistance to help patients cope with these limitations. Many children and adolescents-referred to as young caregivers (YCs)-provide support for patients. However, healthcare professionals do not always recognize YCs, and when they do, healthcare professionals are unsure how to support them. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' attitudes toward and practices when encountering YCs and to compare these aspects according to their experiences with YCs. METHODS: In total, 395 oncology healthcare professionals (mean age 43.3 years; 84.8% females) participated in the study and completed an online survey. RESULTS: Only 1 in 2 professionals reported ever meeting a YC. The majority identified YCs by YCs' frequent presence in the department. No significant difference in attitudes was observed between professionals who had met a YC and those who had never met one. The support provided by professionals to YCs generally consisted of vigilance and exchanges. However, many professionals expressed a need to know where they can refer YCs for assistance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the importance of improving the practices of healthcare professionals to help them better identify and support the YCs they meet.

Psychosocial effects of hypnosis in patients with obesity: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

The usefulness of hypnosis in patients with obesity needs to be better understood in terms of various outcomes, in addition to weight loss. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of hypnosis and self-hypnosis in combination with nutrition education for patients with obesity, as opposed to nutrition education alone, on the secondary outcomes of quality of life (QoL), coping strategies, and self-esteem within a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Eighty-two participants were included in this study (84.3% were women), with 41 in each group. Further, 70 participants had completed treatment. The intervention consisted of eight group sessions (about one every two weeks). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires assessing their QoL, coping strategies, and self-esteem (SF-36, CISS, SEI) before and after the intervention. Non-parametric analyses were performed. Both groups had comparable characteristics at inclusion (sociodemographic information, clinical information, and scores for the self-reported scales). At eight months (i.e. two months after intervention completion), patients from the hypnosis group used more task-oriented coping (p < .001), less emotion-oriented coping (p < .01) and distraction (p < .05), and had more energy/less fatigue (p < .001) compared to the group who did not undergo hypnosis. Other improvements were observed in the hypnosis group, but there were no significant differences compared with the non-hypnosis group in terms of QoL dimensions and general self-esteem. In conclusion, hypnosis and self-hypnosis in combination with nutrition education seem to be promising interventions to help patients deal with obesity, especially by improving their coping strategies.

Emotional processes in partners' quality of life at various stages of breast cancer pathway: a longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have shown that emotional competence (EC) impacts cancer adjustment via anxiety and depression symptoms. The objective was to test this model for the quality of life (QoL) of partners: first, the direct effect of partners' EC on their QoL, anxiety and depression symptoms after cancer diagnosis (T1), after chemotherapy (T2) and after radiotherapy (T3); Second, the indirect effects of partners' EC at T1 on their QoL at T2 and T3 through anxiety and depression symptoms. METHODS: 192 partners of women with breast cancer completed a questionnaire at T1, T2 and T3 to assess their EC (PEC), anxiety and depression symptoms (HADS) and QoL (Partner-YW-BCI). Partial correlations and regression analyses were performed to test direct and indirect effects of EC on issues. RESULTS: EC at T1 predicted fewer anxiety and depression symptoms at each time and all dimensions of QoL, except for career management and financial difficulties. EC showed different significant indirect effects (i.e. via anxiety or depression symptoms) on all sub-dimensions of QoL, except for financial difficulties, according to the step of care pathway (T2 and T3). Anxiety and depression played a different role in the psychological processes that influence QoL. CONCLUSION: Findings confirm the importance of taking emotional processes into account in the adjustment of partners, especially regarding their QoL and the support they may provide to patients. It, thus, seems important to integrate EC in future health models and psychosocial interventions focused on partners or caregivers.

Young adult carers' identification, characteristics, and support: A systematic review.

Young Adult Carers (YAC) are informal carers aged 18-25 years. This is an unrecognized population. The present systematic review aims to respond to: (1) how YAC are identified in research; (2) the prevalence of YAC; (3) the characteristics of YAC; and (4) how to support YAC. Five electronic databases (Google Scholar, PsycArticle, PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and PubMed) were searched for studies, scientific articles, and gray literature on YAC published prior to January 18, 2021. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Crow Critical Appraisal Tool, and a narrative method was used to underline major findings. Twenty-three studies were included and revealed that there were several ways to identify YAC, resulting in heterogeneous prevalence. Nine themes were highlighted for YAC characteristics (way into caring; care receiver; caring responsibilities; amount of caring; self-identification as a carer; living arrangement; physical, psychological, and adaptative outcomes; interpersonal relationships; education and employment); and three for YAC support (needs, available support services, and recommendations). The findings showed the diversity of YAC experiences. Although YAC expressed several needs, there are few or no support services devoted to them. More research is needed to improve political awareness. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021231882, identifier: CRD42021231882.

Professionals' Awareness of Young Carers in Schools: Results from a French Survey.

Few studies have investigated professionals' awareness of young carers (YCs). Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore school professionals' awareness of YCs. The secondary aim was to compare professionals' responses according to their occupation. A total of 2658 professionals took part in this study by completing an online questionnaire. The results indicated that the mean for the perceived age for care beginning was 10.3 years old, with parents being perceived as the most frequent care recipient. The main caring activities reported were domestic chores, emotional support and sibling care, while care provided directly to the care recipient was perceived as less frequent. Many suggestions for improving the identification, referral and support of YCs were seen as relevant, but professionals were less supportive of suggestions for adjustments within schools. The key training needs centered around better identifying YCs and developing better knowledge of their difficulties. Differences were observed according to occupation, with administrative staff and teachers having less accurate perceptions than school counsellors as well as social and health professionals. This study shows that it can be difficult for school professionals to imagine a child providing care. Specific training, therefore, needs to be proposed according to school professionals' occupations.

Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness: A Person-Oriented Approach.

Studies that have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adolescents facing a parental illness showed inconsistent results, and none used a person-oriented approach allowing for a deeper understanding of their experience. The aim of this study was to compare the HRQoL of adolescents facing a parental illness to that of their peers, and to explore their HRQoL through a person-oriented approach. The sample consisted of 1324 adolescents recruited in secondary schools (11-15 years old). Adolescents completed questionnaires assessing sociodemographic characteristics, parental illness, HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-52), and academic performance and caring activities (MACA-YC18). Adolescents facing a parental illness showed significantly lower HRQoL than their peers on all dimensions. The cluster analysis yielded five patterns of HRQoL among adolescents facing a parental illness: Low HRQoL; High HRQoL; Moderate HRQoL with High Social Acceptance; High Well-Being, High Moods and Emotions, and High Social Support and Peers. These clusters differed according to demographics, the type of parental illness, illness perception, academic performance, and level of caring activities. The Low HRQoL cluster showed especially low academic performance and high level of caring activities. This multidimensional HRQoL evaluation thus helps to foreground the diversity of these adolescents' experiences in order to better address their needs.

Are We All the Same When Faced with an Ill Relative? A Person-Oriented Approach to Caring Activities and Mental Health in Emerging Adult Students.

Dealing with the illness/disability of a relative is part of everyday life for many students, who may have to take on caring responsibilities. Fulfilling a caring role during emerging adulthood has been associated with poorer mental health. This study adopts a person-oriented approach in exploring the caring experience in relation to mental health. The sample comprised 3273 students (Mage = 20.19 years, SDage = 1.89; 80.35% female) who answered a series of questionnaires. A cluster analysis identified six patterns of caregiving activities in terms of their nature and extent: few caring activities; household chores; household and financial/practical help; emotional care; sibling care; and many caring activities with emotional and personal care. A series of analyses showed that caring activities differed according to age, gender, living arrangements, financial status, the ill/disabled relative being supported, and the relative's type of illness/disability. A multivariate analysis of covariance showed that emerging adult students with patterns featuring household chores had better mental health than those with few caring activities. Overall, our findings indicate that having an ill/disabled relative can lead an individual to take on a wide range of caring responsibilities that may have varying consequences for emerging adult students' mental health.

Patient perspectives on chronic kidney disease and decision-making about treatment. Discourse of participants in the French CKD-REIN cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about psychological issues in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) facing transition to kidney failure and the involvement of their family in decision-making about kidney replacement therapy (KRT). This study investigated patients' experience of their illness, their views on KRT choice and their perception of the influence of their relatives. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study nested in the CKD-REIN prospective cohort study which included non-dialysis CKD patients from 40 nationally representative nephrology clinics. Among 1555 patients who returned a self-administered questionnaire, we used purposive sampling to select 50 participants who underwent semi-structured phone interviews with a psychologist. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 62.2 ± 12 years, 42% were women, and 68% had CKD stage 4-5. The analysis yielded four lexical classes: "illness rhythm", "considering dialysis", "family and transplantation", and "disease, treatment choice and introspection". When experiencing few or mild symptoms, patients tended to avoid thinking about CKD, for the prospect of dialysis was the most stressful part of their experience. Surprisingly, the importance of family appeared when they talked about transplantation decision-making, but not about choice of dialysis modality. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive avoidance seems common in patients with advanced CKD. Transplantation and dialysis decision-making appear to be two distinct processes, with different levels of family involvement. More research is needed to better understand the frequency and impact of cognitive avoidance on patients' well-being and decision-making.

Profiles of French young carers taking part in an arts and respite care program.

Young carers (YCs) are children and adolescents who provide meaningful, regular support to a relative with a health problem. In France, only one programme exists to support them: the arts and respite care programme of the national association JADE. The aim of this study is to describe the profiles of YCs who had participated in this programme and to evaluate their expectations, opinions, and the evolution of their quality of life over the course of the programme. All YCs enrolled in the programme between 2017 and 2020 were invited to participate in the study. Upon arrival, the youths completed a self-report questionnaire addressing their sociodemographic and family situations, their caregiving activities, their quality of life, and their expectations for the programme. At the end of each week, a questionnaire evaluating their opinion of the programme and their quality of life was completed. A hundred and seventeen children participated (average age: 12; 71.8% girls). Most YCs provided support to a parent or sibling with a chronic somatic disease. The support mainly concerned doing domestic tasks and providing emotional support for the relative and was significantly higher among adolescents. Their expectations were mainly about getting respite and meeting other young people. Their levels of satisfaction were high and aligned with their expectations. Their quality of life increased significantly. French YCs in this programme had characteristics comparable to those observed internationally. The results underline the importance of respite and the benefits such a programme can bring to YCs.

Oncology healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding young carers.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing numbers of youths are facing a relative's cancer. In this context, some are required to provide significant support and are called young carers (YCs). However, little is known about how these youth are viewed and supported by health professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of oncology healthcare professionals regarding YCs. METHODS: Thirty-one oncology professionals working in France (adult and pediatric departments and homecare services) participated in semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: The results indicated that almost all professionals had already met a YC and could identify several situations in their professional context. Their knowledge of YCs appeared to influence their attitudes and practices. They perceived this situation in a rather superficial way when their discourse and ideas were explored in-depth. They mentioned some ideas for improving support for YCs, but also many barriers. CONCLUSION: The results highlight a moderate level of awareness. Thus, it is necessary to enhance providers' awareness and knowledge of YCs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Awareness campaigns and training programs need to be developed for oncology healthcare professionals to help them better identify, understand, and support YCs and their families. This type of action would positively impact patient care.

Assessing caring activities in French adolescents and young adults: Relevance of the Multidimension Assessment of Caring Activities for Young Carers (MACA-YC18).

BACKGROUND: Young carers (YC) and young adult carers (YAC) have become of interest in research and practice. The 18-item Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities for Young Carers (MACA-YC18) was developed for identifying the extent and nature of caring activities across six domains: domestic chores, household management, financial/practical help, personal care, emotional care, and sibling care. The aim of this research was to investigate the psychometric properties of the French version of the MACA-YC18. METHODS: Two quantitative studies were conducted in a general population among adolescents and young adults. The sample was composed of 2688 adolescents (Mage = 16.08; SDage = 0.98; 60.60% girls) in Study 1 and 1192 young adults (Mage = 20.52; SDage = 1.89; 78.27% girls) in Study 2. The psychometric properties were examined via construct validity through internal consistencies, confirmatory factorial analysis, and invariance measurement regarding: gender (girls vs. boys), having a sick/disabled relative (having vs. not), relative's type of illness/disability (physical illness vs. mental illness vs. other illnesses/disabilities), providing support to a sick/disabled relative (providing vs. not), and living arrangement (with family vs. not). RESULTS: In both studies, internal consistencies were in line with those reported in the literature, the 6-factor structure was confirmed, and strict invariances were highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that the French version of the MACA-YC18 has good psychometric properties regarding construct validity not only among adolescents but also among young adults. This instrument appears to be a relevant screening tool for identifying and characterizing young carers in the general population.

Prevalence and characteristics of adolescent young carers in France: The challenge of identification.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of adolescent young carers in France, with an identification method based on the extent of caring activities including emotional support. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: Between May 2018 and February 2021, 4037 adolescents (grades 10-12, mainly aged 15-17, 60.2% female) answered a self-reported questionnaire at school. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, illness/disability in the family, support provided by the adolescent (Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities, MACA-YC18, and a specific scale for emotional support), and quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10). RESULTS: Results showed that 42.5% of adolescents faced the illness/disability of a relative and 14.3% provided a high level of support and could be considered adolescent young carers. They were most commonly females caring for a parent. Adolescent young carers reported a lower quality of life than non carers. Results also highlighted differences in care and quality of life between adolescent young carers who shared the same household as their ill/disabled relative and those who did not, according to gender as well as type and perception of support provided. CONCLUSION: Identifying adolescent young carers is a challenge. Identification methods based on the extent of caring activities seem appropriate but not entirely satisfactory. Self-identification criteria also seems important. An international consensus on the best identification methods and tools should be proposed. In France, the prevalence of adolescent young carers is high. These results highlight the crucial need to enhance awareness about adolescent young carers in France in order to identify and support them through appropriate health services policy. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Little is known about young carers in France and there is no prevalence study. However, it is difficult to know which methods and identification criteria to apply to assess the prevalence, because they differ between studies and have an impact on the prevalence observed in each country. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: The prevalence of adolescent young carers in France is high with a rate of 14.3%. Among them, 74.9% were female, 74.2% lived in the same household as their ill/disabled relative and 70.2% were aware that they provided support. Female young carers or those sharing a household with their ill/disabled relative provided higher levels of caring activities and had a lower quality of life. Adolescent young carers who were aware they provided support were less likely to have a relative with a serious/chronic physical illness but were more likely to have a relative with a mental illness, be a carer for a sibling or a grandparent and share the same household. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE IMPACT?: These results should enhance awareness about young carers in France. Health care and education professionals have a major role to play to identify and support young carers, but public policy has to sustain it. Thus, the high prevalence rates highlight the importance of this phenomenon and the need to be attentive to this hidden population. Results also suggest an international consensus should be proposed to identify young carers.