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Factors associated with experiencing informal caregiving as demanding and ability to work among working carers : a national survey from Sweden

Vicente, Joana ; McKee, Kevin J. ; Magnusson, Lennart ; Johansson, Pauline ; Ekman, Björn LU orcid and Hanson, Elizabeth (2025) In Community, Work and Family
Abstract

Informal carers in paid work are known as working carers (WKCs). This combination of care and work is particular to them, and their support needs may differ from other informal carers. This exploratory study describes the caregiving-related factors associated with experiencing caregiving as demanding and a decreased ability to work in WKCs. The Swedish National Carer Survey was conducted in a stratified random sample (N = 30,009) of the population (≥18 years) between October 2018 and January 2019. Of 11,168 respondents, 818 (7.32%) met the study criteria for WKCs, i.e. they provide informal care to another person on a regular basis, and they work full time. Almost half (49.3%) of WKCs report experiencing caregiving as demanding, while... (More)

Informal carers in paid work are known as working carers (WKCs). This combination of care and work is particular to them, and their support needs may differ from other informal carers. This exploratory study describes the caregiving-related factors associated with experiencing caregiving as demanding and a decreased ability to work in WKCs. The Swedish National Carer Survey was conducted in a stratified random sample (N = 30,009) of the population (≥18 years) between October 2018 and January 2019. Of 11,168 respondents, 818 (7.32%) met the study criteria for WKCs, i.e. they provide informal care to another person on a regular basis, and they work full time. Almost half (49.3%) of WKCs report experiencing caregiving as demanding, while 40.4% indicated that their ability to work had been reduced due to providing informal care. Two ordinal logistic regression models were developed, one each for caregiving is demanding and ability to work is decreased. Psychological stress and financial problems caused by caregiving increased the odds of both experiencing caregiving as demanding and having one’s ability to work decrease, while finding caregiving satisfying decreased the odds of both. Further research is needed to establish how caregiving-related factors affect WKCs in both their care and working roles.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
employment, family carers, psychological stress, support, Working carers
in
Community, Work and Family
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:105003175773
ISSN
1366-8803
DOI
10.1080/13668803.2025.2493244
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3681adf2-3af7-49ed-ad5c-a2003be59b60
date added to LUP
2025-09-29 13:39:11
date last changed
2025-09-29 13:39:56
@article{3681adf2-3af7-49ed-ad5c-a2003be59b60,
  abstract     = {{<p>Informal carers in paid work are known as working carers (WKCs). This combination of care and work is particular to them, and their support needs may differ from other informal carers. This exploratory study describes the caregiving-related factors associated with experiencing caregiving as demanding and a decreased ability to work in WKCs. The Swedish National Carer Survey was conducted in a stratified random sample (N = 30,009) of the population (≥18 years) between October 2018 and January 2019. Of 11,168 respondents, 818 (7.32%) met the study criteria for WKCs, i.e. they provide informal care to another person on a regular basis, and they work full time. Almost half (49.3%) of WKCs report experiencing caregiving as demanding, while 40.4% indicated that their ability to work had been reduced due to providing informal care. Two ordinal logistic regression models were developed, one each for caregiving is demanding and ability to work is decreased. Psychological stress and financial problems caused by caregiving increased the odds of both experiencing caregiving as demanding and having one’s ability to work decrease, while finding caregiving satisfying decreased the odds of both. Further research is needed to establish how caregiving-related factors affect WKCs in both their care and working roles.</p>}},
  author       = {{Vicente, Joana and McKee, Kevin J. and Magnusson, Lennart and Johansson, Pauline and Ekman, Björn and Hanson, Elizabeth}},
  issn         = {{1366-8803}},
  keywords     = {{employment; family carers; psychological stress; support; Working carers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Community, Work and Family}},
  title        = {{Factors associated with experiencing informal caregiving as demanding and ability to work among working carers : a national survey from Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2025.2493244}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13668803.2025.2493244}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}