Young carers in Japan: Reliability and validity testing of the BBC/University of Nottingham young carers survey questionnaire and prevalence estimation in 5000 adolescents

Aim: Young carers (YCs) refer to children under the age of 18 who assume responsibilities that would normally be assumed by adults, such as caring for family members in need of care. In recent years, the concept of YCs has been expanding in Japan, and the government has been rapidly implementing strategies to support them. There is a need for a survey scale for YCs that uses standardized methods that can be compared internationally. Method: The BBC/University of Nottingham Survey for estimating the prevalence of YCs and caring activities of United Kingdom adolescents was translated into Japanese, and its reliability and validity were tested with 313 adolescents. Moreover, the prevalence of YCs was estimated in a school-based survey among 5000 adolescents. Results: The Young Carers Scale Japanese version (YCS-J) was acceptably reliable and valid. The original six-factor model for caring activity in the Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities Checklist for Young Carers (MACA-YC18) was supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The prevalence of YCs among 5000 adolescents in the Tokyo metropolitan area was estimated to be 7.4%, comparable to that reported in Western countries and in recent surveys in Japan using nonstandardized methods. YCs exhibited significantly higher scores for prosocial behavior and emotional symptoms than non-YCs. Conclusions: The YCS-J, as an internationally comparable instrument, will be useful for understanding the actual situation of YCs in Japan, and to disseminate and implement support through cooperation among education, welfare, and healthcare sectors.