New findings from a study involving over 28,000 caregivers across three countries indicate that the longer individuals care for their loved ones, the more their mental and emotional health declines, irrespective of the caregiving situation. This highlights the need for policy discussions aimed at easing the pressures of informal caregiving.
Recent research conducted by the University of Zurich has gathered insights from over 28,000 caregivers in three different countries, revealing that prolonged caregiving negatively impacts personal well-being, regardless of the specific circumstances. This revelation emphasizes the necessity of policy initiatives to lessen the load of informal caregiving.
The incidence of informal caregiving is increasing worldwide, bringing significant changes to the lives of caregivers. But what is the effect of caregiving on their well-being? Previous studies have presented mixed results: some argue that caregiving enhances well-being by offering a sense of purpose, while others indicate that it leads to emotional distress.
To clarify this issue, researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) examined data from 28,663 caregivers who provided 281,884 observations from panel studies conducted in the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia. The analysis revealed a steady decline in life satisfaction and emotional health, accompanied by growing feelings of loneliness and anxiety, particularly among women.
Well-being deteriorates over time
According to co-author Michael Krämer from the Department of Psychology at UZH, “Our findings indicated a decrease in well-being in the years subsequent to beginning caregiving.” This decline was observed across multiple dimensions of well-being—life satisfaction, emotional states, depression/anxiety, and loneliness—being especially significant and prolonged for women compared to men.
The researchers further investigated the relationship between the amount of time spent on caregiving and well-being, finding that more time dedicated to caregiving tasks correlated with a greater decline in well-being for all genders.
The study also looked at elements like the intensity of caregiving, the nature of the relationship between caregivers and recipients, and full-time jobs. Surprisingly, these variables had minimal impact on the overall decline in well-being, indicating that caregivers experience similar struggles across various situations.
Addressing the adverse effects on caregivers
Krämer notes, “While these results indicate the stress associated with caregiving, it is important to remember that individual experiences can vary.” There are other facets of psychological well-being, such as finding purpose in caregiving, that may not have been captured in this data. Some individuals may indeed derive meaning from their caregiving responsibilities.
In summary, these findings align with stress theory and illustrate the potential decline in well-being often linked to informal caregiving. Women appear particularly at risk, likely due to their tendency to carry more extensive care responsibilities for family members. The results underscore the urgent need for policies that lessen the dependency on informal care, including enhanced access to formal long-term care or integrated care options that could lessen the adverse effects on caregivers.
