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Fakultät Sozialwissenschaften
Focus on research results

New article by Carolin Kunz published: Transitioning into informal care and occupational self-efficacy

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Carolin Kunz's article from the special issue of the Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics has now also been published. She examines the effects of informal care on professional self-efficacy in a longitudinal study.

Background: Informal caregiving often begins while individuals are still actively working and can lead to role conflicts. This dual burden has a negative impact on work performance and can change attitudes toward work, which in turn can lead to individuals leaving the workforce.

About the study: Based on the 2017, 2019, and 2021 waves of the BAuA Working Time Survey, she examined the influence of taking on informal caregiving on professional self-efficacy. The results show significant losses in dealing with professional difficulties, developing problem solutions, and coping with professional demands among people who provide at least occasional informal care, and a weakly significant decline in professional self-efficacy among frequent informal caregivers.

Conclusion: In view of the shortage of skilled workers and challenges facing our social systems, it is crucial to maintain the working capacity of employees – especially in aging societies.

We invite all interested parties to take a look at the paper!