
Of interest in this paper is the phenomenon of "parentification"—where children assume age-inappropriate caregiving roles within the family. Research indicates that contexts such as parental illness or substance abuse often contribute to its occurrence. This systematic review, synthesizing 29 studies, highlights the complex impact of parentification on adolescent mental health. Outcomes are not uniform; they are influenced by the adolescent's subjective perception of the role and moderated by protective factors such as strong sibling support. Evidence also points to a pathway for the intergenerational transmission of parentification. Future longitudinal research is needed to clarify the underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms and to further identify protective factors across different contexts.
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