Youths' Caretaking of Their Adolescent Sisters' Children: Its Costs and Benefits for Youths' Development

Abstract

This study examined how time spent caring for a teenage sister's child and experiences in providing care related to youths' young adult outcomes. Latino and African American youths (N = 108) were studied during middle and late adolescence. Results indicated that youths who provided many hours of child care were more stressed and had lower school grades but also reported a greater life satisfaction, a stronger school orientation, and were less likely to drop out of school. Negative experiences in providing care were associated with a lower likelihood of school dropout and teenage pregnancy. Findings suggest that the extent of sibling caregiving in teenage childbearing families incurs both developmental costs and benefits.

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