The Economic Effects of Caring for Adult Family Members

该项目探讨了照顾成年家庭成员对照顾者经济福祉的影响。在美国，近四分之一的人照顾成年家庭成员、伴侣或朋友，预计这一数字还会上升。研究已经产生了大量关于提供护理的健康结果的信息，但我们对提供护理的经济后果知之甚少。该项目利用来自健康与退休研究的全国代表性纵向数据，回答了以下问题：照顾老年家庭成员-配偶或年迈的父母-如何影响照顾者的就业决策，收入，储蓄和财富？对男性和女性的影响是否不同，这种差异的来源是什么？这些不同的经历对妇女和男子的就业决定和经济成果是否有不同的影响？社会经济地位的影响是否不同？例如，那些资源较少的人是否会从工作中抽出更多的时间，支付更高的收入罚款？对于双重困境，有一系列可能的反应。这个项目探讨了这些选择及其经济后果。这个项目的发现增强了我们对工作、家庭和老龄化的理解。通过这个项目获得的见解可以帮助了解如何为照顾者及其照顾对象提供支持。该项目还包括研究生和本科生在研究的各个阶段，这有助于产生下一代的科学家和公民谁可以满足我们的世纪老龄化社会的需求。

This project explores the effects of caring for adult family members on caregivers' economic well-being. In the US, nearly one in four people care for an adult family member, partner, or friend, and the number is expected to rise. Research has yielded a wealth of information on the health outcomes of providing care, but we know less about the economic ramifications of providing care.Drawing on nationally-representative, longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, the project answers the following questions: How does caring for an elderly family member - a spouse or elderly parent - affect caregivers' employment decisions, earnings, savings, and wealth? Do the effects differ for men and women, and what are the sources of such differences? Do these different experiences have different effects on women's and men's employment decisions and economic outcomes? Do the effects differ by socioeconomic status? Do those with fewer resources, for example, take more time off from work and pay larger earnings penalties? There are a range of possible responses to caregiving dilemmas. This project explores these choices and their economic ramifications.The findings from this project enhance our understanding work, family, and aging. Insights gained through this project could aid in understanding how to provide support for caregivers and their care recipients. The project also includes graduate and undergraduate students in all phases of the research, which helps to produce the next generation of scientists and citizens who can meet the needs of our 21st century aging society.