An Uneven Burden: Social Disparities in Adult Caregiving Responsibilities, Working Conditions, and Caregiver Outcomes

• Published in: Research on aging 2013-05, Vol.35 (3), p.243-274
• Main Authors: Lahaie, Claudia, Earle, Alison, Heymann, Jody
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caregivers; Difference; Differences; Elder care; Ethnicity; Friendship; Hispanic Americans; Immigrants; Responsibilities; Responsibility; United States; Wages; Work Environment; Working conditions; Working Women
• ISSN: 0164-0275; 1552-7573
• DOI: 10.1177/0164027512446028

Using data from a large, nationally representative U.S. survey, the authors examine differences in adult caregiving responsibilities, working conditions, and caregiver outcomes by gender, ethnicity, immigration status, and educational attainment. Women, Hispanics, and first-generation immigrant caregivers are more likely to have worse working conditions including an unsupportive culture at work, less schedule flexibility, and less access to paid vacation leave. Women and first-generation immigrant caregivers are more likely to report caregiving contributing to poor job outcomes including quitting work, retiring early, or reducing hours involuntarily. Caregivers with less than a college degree experience both worse working conditions including lack of access to paid sick days and worse job outcomes including having lost wages or a job. Women, second-generation immigrants, and those with a high school diploma or less are more likely to report that their caregiving responsibilities interfere with their quality of life including negative impacts on their ability to spend time with friends. Research and policy implications are discussed.