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. 2018 Mar;32(1):157-167.
doi: 10.1111/scs.12441. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Informal care: choice or constraint?

Hareth Al-Janabi  1 , Fiona Carmichael  2 , Jan Oyebode  3
Affiliations

Informal care: choice or constraint?

Hareth Al-Janabi et al. Scand J Caring Sci. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Background: 'Choice' is increasingly pursued as a goal of social policy. However, the degree to which choice is exercised when entering an informal caring role is open to debate.

Aim: In this study, we examined the degree of choice and constraint in entering a caring role, and the relationship between choice and carers' well-being.

Methods: Data were derived from 1100 responses to a postal survey conducted in a British city. Statistical tests of association and multivariable regression modelling were applied to study the factors associated with choice in entering a caring role and the association that choice in entering a caring role had with carers' well-being.

Results: We found that informal care was generally perceived to be a free choice, albeit in most cases, a choice was also constrained by duty, financial or social resources. Having a sense of free choice in entering care was strongly and positively associated with the carer's well-being.

Conclusion: The study findings are consistent with a view that enabling individuals to have more choice in their caring roles may be beneficial.

Keywords: choice; informal care; motivation; quality of life; survey; well-being.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Choice in caring variable (n = 1 100).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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