Informal Care and Work
The article “Transitioning Into Informal Care During Working Age: Longitudinal Evidence on the Work–Family Interface Among Employees in Germany” by Carolin Kunz and Ariane Bertogg, published in the *Journal of Family and Economic Issues*, examines how the transition to informal care affects the work–family balance.
Based on the BAuA Working Hours Survey and a longitudinal, quasi-experimental design, this study examined whether taking on informal caregiving is associated with changes in work-family conflict and family-work conflict.
The key findings:
- Taking on caregiving responsibilities increases family-work conflict (see figure)
- Work-family conflict does not change significantly
- The higher the frequency of caregiving, the greater the family-work conflict
The study thus contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms through which informal caregiving may be linked to work-related outcomes.