Care giving in early adulthood: an exploration into the occupational engagement of young adult carers

The purpose of this study was to improve understanding of the lived experiences of young adult carers (YACs), analysing the effects of their roles and responsibilities on their occupational engagement. The aim was to gain a real-life narrative while applying occupational and life-span development theory to enhance knowledge of this under-represented group within existing research. A qualitative, phenomenological methodology was adopted, using purposive sampling and individual semi-structured interviews to gather data. Three participants, aged 18–25, took part and provided rich data of their experiences. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim to improve validity. Post-transcription respondent validation further ensured trustworthiness and reduced any potential researcher bias.