Informal Caregiving in Context: Conversion Factors and their impact in Work-life Balance Outcomes

Abstract

This study looks at the interactions between gender, employment arrangements, socioeconomic position (SEP), and welfare familialism degree to understand how informal caregivers (ICs) in the UK and Spain achieve work-life balance (WLB) within their capabilities. The research highlights the major differences in WLB outcomes by emphasizing the intricate interactions between these factors through an interdisciplinary approach. The results show that women and lower SEP ICs have more difficulty juggling employment and caring obligations because of rigid work schedules and difficult access to formal care resources. On the other hand, higher SEP ICs have access to more financial resources and job flexibility, which improves their capabilities to achieve WLB. The study also finds that familialistic regulations reinforce traditional gender norms and expectations for caregiving, which leads to inequalities of capabilities to achieve WLB based on gender. The results indicate that to effectively support ICs, there is a need for flexible work arrangements, enhanced financial support, easily available formal care services, and gender-sensitive policies. Future studies ought to delve deeper into these junctions and their enduring effects on WLB. These observations are intended to help policymakers address the difficulties that ICs encounter to foster fair and encouraging conditions for providing care.