Transitioning into informal care and occupational self-efficacy : A difference-in-differences propensity score...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Work
• Occupational Health Psychology

Background:

• Increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates are increasing the demand for care.
• Informal caregiving often overlaps with employment, creating role conflicts and dual burdens.
• This dual burden can negatively impact job performance and reduce occupational self-efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the longitudinal impact of transitioning into informal caregiving on occupational self-efficacy.
• To investigate occupational self-efficacy as a potential mechanism for reduced working hours or labor market exit among caregivers.
• To address a research gap concerning the relationship between informal caregiving and occupational self-efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2017, 2019, and 2021 waves of the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) Working Time Survey.
• Employed difference-in-differences (DiD) models to assess the effect of transitioning into informal caregiving.
• Applied propensity score matching (PSM) to control for potential selection bias.

Main Results:

• Transitioning into informal caregiving, even occasionally, significantly reduced occupational self-efficacy.
• Caregiving led to a deterioration in employees' composure when facing occupational difficulties.
• The ability to generate solutions for work-related problems and cope with demands was negatively affected.

Conclusions:

• Sustaining employees' occupational self-efficacy is crucial for maintaining their working ability in aging societies.
• Addressing the impact of informal caregiving on self-efficacy is vital given skilled labor shortages.
• Interventions supporting caregivers may be necessary to mitigate negative effects on the workforce and welfare systems.