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Protecting the health of employees caring for family members with special health care needs

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  • Earle, Alison
  • Heymann, Jody

Abstract

Over half of American workers are holding a paid job while also providing unpaid assistance and support to a family member. Research shows that family members who provide care to children or adults with special health care needs are themselves at risk of physical and mental health problems. Yet, little research has explored how the work environment mediates the effects of caregiving on caregivers' mental and physical health. With a sample of 2455 currently employed U.S. adults from the Work, Family, Community Nexus (WFCN) survey, a random-digit dial, nationally representative survey of Americans aged 18-69, we examine whether paid leave and flexibility policies mediate the relationship between caregiving and health. In Ordinary Least Squares regression models, we find that paid leave to address family members' health was associated with better mental health status as measured by the 5-item Mental Health Inventory and paid sick leave with better physical health status as measured by self-rated overall health status. A supportive supervisor was also associated with improvements in mental and physical health. For both men and women, paid leave and a supervisor's support offset some or all of the negative effects of caregiving, but for women, the buffering effects of working conditions are slightly larger. Enhancing the unpaid leave guaranteed in the U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act so that it is paid and passing national paid sick days legislation will help ensure that employed caregivers can retain their jobs, receive needed income, and meet their own mental and physical health needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Earle, Alison & Heymann, Jody, 2011. "Protecting the health of employees caring for family members with special health care needs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 68-78, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:73:y:2011:i:1:p:68-78
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cannuscio, C.C. & Jones, C. & Kawachi, I. & Colditz, G.A. & Berkman, L. & Rimm, E., 2002. "Reverberations of family illness: A longitudinal assessment of informal caregiving and mental health status in the nurses' health study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(8), pages 1305-1311.
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    3. Magnus Henrekson & Mats Persson, 2004. "The Effects on Sick Leave of Changes in the Sickness Insurance System," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 22(1), pages 87-114, January.
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    5. Richard Freeman, 2005. "Labour market institutions without blinders: The debate over flexibility and labour market performance," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 129-145.
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    1. Dardas, Anastassios Z. & Williams, Allison & Scott, Darren, 2020. "Carer-employees’ travel behaviour: Assisted-transport in time and space," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    2. Ramesh, Shruti & Ireson, Rachelle & Williams, Allison, 2017. "International synthesis and case study examination of promising caregiver-friendly workplaces," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 52-60.
    3. Jacobs, Josephine C. & Lilly, Meredith B. & Ng, Carita & Coyte, Peter C., 2013. "The fiscal impact of informal caregiving to home care recipients in Canada: How the intensity of care influences costs and benefits to government," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 102-109.

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