Informal care: choice or constraint?

'Choice' is increasingly pursued as a goal of social policy. However, the degree to which choice is exercised when entering an informal caring role is open to debate.

In this study, we examined the degree of choice and constraint in entering a caring role, and the relationship between choice and carers' well-being.

Data were derived from 1100 responses to a postal survey conducted in a British city. Statistical tests of association and multivariable regression modelling were applied to study the factors associated with choice in entering a caring role and the association that choice in entering a caring role had with carers' well-being.

We found that informal care was generally perceived to be a free choice, albeit in most cases, a choice was also constrained by duty, financial or social resources. Having a sense of free choice in entering care was strongly and positively associated with the carer's well-being.

The study findings are consistent with a view that enabling individuals to have more choice in their caring roles may be beneficial.