Ruhr Economic Papers

Ruhr Economic Papers #474
The Mental and Physical Burden of Caregiving - Evidence from Administrative Data
RUB, RWI, 02/2014, 27 S./p., 8 Euro, ISBN 978-3-86788-536-2 DOI: 10.4419/86788536
downloadAbstract
This study evaluates the mental and physical strain experienced by informal caregivers. Econometric problems due to individuals selecting themselves into informal care provision are tackled by using informative and detailed data from the largest sickness fund in Germany and applying propensity score matching techniques. The findings suggest that carers take more psychoactive drugs as well as analgesics and gastrointestinal agents. Thus, informal caregiving appears to be a burdensome task with implications for both mental and physical health.
JEL-Classification: I10
Keywords: Informal care; burden; drugs; propensity score matching