Young adults’ lived experiences of parental cancer: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Background: Young adults aged 18 to 35 years with a parent affected by cancer often face emotional, financial, and social burdens. Parental illness disrupts this transitional life stage, which is commonly characterised by education, career-building, and relationships, by adding caregiving responsibilities that may strain identity, well-being, and social connections. Despite their psychosocial vulnerability, young adult caregivers remain underrepresented in research, and little is known about how they experience and navigate these challenges. Objective: To address this gap, this systematic review identifies and synthesises qualitative research on individuals who experience parental cancer during young adulthood or emerging adulthood. Information sources: The literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus, from inception to May 2024, with an updated search in September 2025. In addition, the reference lists of included studies were screened to identify further eligible records. Methods: We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis following established methodological and reporting guidelines (PRISMA-P and ENTREQ). The review included qualitative studies and data were synthesised using thematic synthesis as described by Thomas and Harden. Results: , highlighting the role of support, access to information, and active involvement in caregiving. Conclusion: Parental cancer profoundly affects young adults, influencing their emotional well-being, personal identity, and family responsibilities. While these challenges can be overwhelming, they may also foster personal growth and resilience. Difficulties in seeking support underscore the need for tailored interventions to help young adults maintain well-being. Registration: The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews 23 December 2023. Registration number CRD42023492854.