The Experiences of Young Sibling Caregivers in Ontario: A Qualitative Study

This thesis explored how young sibling carers living in Ontario, Canada make sense of their caregiving experiences. Data was obtained from an interview-style podcast titled, Hidden: The Voices of Young Carers, published by The Change Foundation. A total of seven podcasts were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Eight themes were identified. Results suggest that young carers experience a sense of obligation and responsibility to fulfill this role among the other roles they hold in their lives. A feeling of normalcy due to the age at which participants began taking on this role was evident across podcast interview responses. While young sibling carers described an enhanced level of resourcefulness resulting from their role when compared to their peers, they also noted the unique challenges that emanate from being a young sibling caregiver. Limitations and implications of the analysis are discussed. Future directions for research are also explored.