Ellen Verbakel1, Stian Tamlagsrønning2, Lizzy Winstone3, Erlend L Fjær2, Terje A Eikemo2. 1. Department of Sociology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 3. Centre for Comparative Social Surveys, City University London, London, UK.
Abstract
Background: Against the background of a rising demand for informal care in European societies, this study sets out to provide descriptive information by gender on (i) prevalence rates of (intensive) informal caregiving, (ii) characteristics of (intensive) informal caregivers and (iii) consequences of (intensive) informal caregiving in terms of mental well-being. Results: On average, 34.3% of the population in 20 European countries were informal caregivers and 7.6% were intensive caregivers (providing care for minimum 11 h a week). Countries with high numbers of caregivers had low numbers of intensive caregivers. Caregiving was most prevalent among women, 50–59 year olds, non-employed—especially those doing housework—and religious persons. Determinants of providing care hardly differed by gender. Caregivers, especially female and intensive caregivers, reported lower mental well-being than non-caregivers. Conclusions: Our results suggest support for both crowding-in and crowding-out effects of the welfare state. Middle-aged women may become increasingly time squeezed as they are likely to be the first to respond to higher demands for informal care, while they are also the major target groups in employment policies aiming for increased labour market participation. Caregivers, and especially female and intensive caregivers, report lower levels of mental well-being. Supportive policies such as respite care or training and counselling may therefore be needed in order to sustain informal care as an important resource of our health care systems.
Background: Against the background of a rising demand for informal care in European societies, this study sets out to provide descriptive information by gender on (i) prevalence rates of (intensive) informal caregiving, (ii) characteristics of (intensive) informal caregivers and (iii) consequences of (intensive) informal caregiving in terms of mental well-being. Results: On average, 34.3% of the population in 20 European countries were informal caregivers and 7.6% were intensive caregivers (providing care for minimum 11 h a week). Countries with high numbers of caregivers had low numbers of intensive caregivers. Caregiving was most prevalent among women, 50–59 year olds, non-employed—especially those doing housework—and religious persons. Determinants of providing care hardly differed by gender. Caregivers, especially female and intensive caregivers, reported lower mental well-being than non-caregivers. Conclusions: Our results suggest support for both crowding-in and crowding-out effects of the welfare state. Middle-aged women may become increasingly time squeezed as they are likely to be the first to respond to higher demands for informal care, while they are also the major target groups in employment policies aiming for increased labour market participation. Caregivers, and especially female and intensive caregivers, report lower levels of mental well-being. Supportive policies such as respite care or training and counselling may therefore be needed in order to sustain informal care as an important resource of our health care systems.
Authors: Laia Calvó-Perxas; Joan Vilalta-Franch; Howard Litwin; Oriol Turró-Garriga; Pedro Mira; Josep Garre-Olmo Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-03-08 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Yuke-Lin Kong; Jailani Anis-Syakira; Suhana Jawahir; Yeung R'ong Tan; Noor Hasidah Ab Rahman; Ee Hong Tan Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 3.295