An Exploration of The Lived Experience of Informal Student Carers During Covid-19
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29311/ndtns.v18i1.4265Keywords:
Student carer, unpaid care, informal student carer, university, university students, educational institutions, higher education, covid-19 pandemic, covid, pandemic,Abstract
Informal Student Carers (ISC) are students who provide unpaid care to a friend or family member needing support. We explored the lived experiences of ISC and the challenges they faced throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. A scoping review, questionnaire-based survey and volunteer interviews were undertaken to identify the themes which predicate student carer’s experience during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our research showed that a combination of financial concerns, time constraints, and the lack of visibility of student caregivers all contributed to this student group's poor mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Educational institutions have an obligation to be informed and support the unique and varied needs of ISCs.
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