Becoming a caregiver can have a negative impact on well-being, according to a study from the University of Zurich published on Wednesday. The research team analyzed data from more than 28,000 caregivers in the Netherlands, Germany and Australia. Their conclusion: the reduction in well-being is particularly evident in the long term and among women.
Increasing anxiety, feelings of isolation, declining life satisfaction and deteriorating emotional health: these are the consequences often felt by caregivers over the years, regardless of the tasks accomplished.
These negative effects particularly affect women, as explained by Michael Krämer, psychologist and co-author of the study. “We observed that women were more affected than men, and that the reduction in their well-being lasted longer,” he explains Thursday in La Matinale.
Call to open political debate
But how can we explain such a gap? According to scientists, women invest more time in caring for their loved ones, which exposes them to increased daily stress. They also seem more emotionally involved, while men, who generally devote less time to it, suffer less from the consequences.
The study also highlights a direct link between the time devoted to care each day and the decline in well-being of caregivers: the more intense the commitment, the greater the repercussions.
Faced with these observations, the research team calls for opening a political debate to develop solutions to better support caregivers.
Radio subject: Camille Degott
Web text: hkr
Swiss
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