The Impact of Informal Care and Employment on the Mental Health of the Caregiver

Abstract

"This study examines whether informal caregiving has a negative effect on the mental health of the caregiver, taking into account additional burdens such as that of holding down a job. The analyses are based on the German Socio - Economic Panel (GSOEP). We estimate fixed - effects regressions of a measure of caregivers' mental health (SF - 12) on hours of informal caregiving, taking into account the relationships between the caregiver and the person being cared for. Our results show that hours of caregiving have a negative effect on mental health. Being employed for a few working hours only has a positive effect on the health status even in combination with informal care duties. An interaction of these factors reveals a positive effect on mental health." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Eberl, A., Lang, S. & Seebaß, K. (2017): The Impact of Informal Care and Employment on the Mental Health of the Caregiver. In: Sozialer Fortschritt, Vol. 66, No. 1, p. 77-96. DOI:10.3790/sfo.66.1.77