General and proximal associations between unpaid eldercare, time constraints and subjective well-being

Using 2012/13 American Time Use Survey, we find as compared to non-caregivers, caregivers report less time on personal care, social activities and sports and more time on housework. They also report higher stress and lower happiness when engaged in daily activities. Further, using diary information which captures activities during a 24-hour window, we compare caregivers on days they provide care and caregivers on days they do not provide care. Caregivers report more time on housework and less on paid work, and higher levels of sadness when engaged in daily activities. This highlights proximal effects of informal caregiving, even for individuals already engaged in regular caregiving.