Patterns of household behavior around a family member's disability onset

Households including a member with disabilities carry greater caregiving burdens than those without, increasing the likelihood of economic and emotional imbalances.

Using Korea Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS) waves 1-19, this study compares changes in household income and expenditures and depression and family-life satisfaction among members without disabilities before and after disability onset.

We set the onset year as 0 and analyzed the 3-year windows before and after onset. Income and expenditures were modeled using multivariable linear regression with individual and time fixed effects; depression and family-life satisfaction with multivariable logistic regression with random effects.

Income and expenditure descriptively showed a declining pattern after onset. Income was lower three and two years before onset by 16.5% and 15.4%, respectively, while total expenditure was marginally lower three years before onset by 14.2%. Food expenditure showed a gradual increasing trend and was 12.1% higher three years after onset. Healthcare expenditure spiked one year before onset and then declined and was 28.7% lower one year before onset. Depression modestly increased and family-life dissatisfaction slightly declined, but neither psychological outcome was statistically significant.

Depression and family-life satisfaction among household members without disabilities did not change significantly, whereas household income and expenditure showed some statistically significant changes. Emotional support within family could mitigate psychological impacts, but tailored support is needed to reduce perceived caregiving burden.