Bristol University Press

Background: Informal caregivers are individuals who provide care for ill, frail, or otherwise dependent family members, siblings, or friends. Due to the caregiving demands, informal caregivers are known to experience negative mental health symptoms, such as stress or anxiety. Interventions based on Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) principles have been previously found to be effective for different populations and could also be considered as a plausible support option for informal caregivers.

Background: Family carers of older adults with disability often both experience stress that may affect their ability to provide care, and find some caregiving activities differentially challenging. Objectives: The objectives of this research are to identify the caregiving activities that are most problematic to carers and to explore the reasons why carers found these activities challenging. Methods: Participants were past or current carers aged 19 years and older.

This article focuses on biographical narratives of trans men and non-binary people about care practices in the spheres of friendship and family. Recognising forms of resistance to adversity through informal networks of support, in this article, care provided by trans and non-binary people to (often) cisgender recipients is conceptualised as a heroic act.

Background: Supportive interventions are needed for the family and carers of people with multiple sclerosis. Methods: A rapid realist review and realist evaluation explored what helps, who it helps, when and how. Literature analysis was synthesised with a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews and focus groups with 49 family and carers of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background and Objectives: We investigated how carers of people with dementia evaluate their standing in their community and wider society, and if this is related to 'living well'. Methods: We used baseline data from the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life programme and found that carers rated their standing in society higher than in their local community. Results: Higher evaluations of both were associated with enhanced life satisfaction, well-being and quality of life.

By its definition, care is not (financially) reimbursed. However, care recipients often provide material and/or financial support to their carers, which may be related to a range of psychological and social outcomes, such as the financial fragility of care recipients, changes in the quality of relationships and care, or psychological burden.

Background: This review explores factors sustaining and threatening couples' relationships when both have advanced illness. Methods: Qualitative studies exploring relationships between two people in a marriage/partnership with advanced illness are included. Findings: A total of 12 articles are included. Internal enabling factors, external enabling factors and threatening factors are identified. However, there is limited evidence internationally on factors sustaining these relationships and crisis factors.

Background: Carers (including young carers) experiencing negative outcomes due to their caring role are more likely to report a lower sense of coherence. This article explores young carers' support needs for support provided by professionals. Methods: A total of 20 interviews with young carers and the persons for whom they provide care were analysed by applying Antonovsky's paradigm of salutogenesis. The dimensions of manageability, comprehensibility and meaningfulness served to categorise the data.

The COVID-19 outbreak that emerged at the end of 2019 has had a significant and ongoing global impact. This article discusses the impact on the third sector in the UK and the carers who use third sector services.

Background: The term ‘care crisis’ is invoked to denote chronic system failures and bad outcomes for the people involved. Methods: We present a comprehensive wellbeing framework and illustrate its practicality with evidence of negative outcomes for those who provide care. Findings: We find evidence of substantial material and relational wellbeing failures for family carers and for care workers, while there has been little interest in carers’ views of their ability to live the life that they most value.