Caregiving Dynamics and Mental Health Outcomes

Caregiving occupies a central role in contemporary health and social systems, as informal carers support relatives and friends with chronic illness, disability or age-related frailty. The dynamics of this role encompass transitions into and out of caregiving, fluctuating task demands, emotional labour and evolving social expectations. Mental health outcomes for carers range from increased depressive symptoms, anxiety and loneliness to shifts in life satisfaction and broader quality of life. Outcomes are shaped by the intensity and duration of care, the nature of the care recipient’s needs and the carer’s socioeconomic context. At the same time, caregiving can foster positive experiences of meaning, social connection and personal growth. Emerging evidence highlights the importance of temporal patterns—how rapid shifts into caregiving or prolonged high-intensity care affect trajectories of psychological distress and well-being. Complementary qualitative studies reveal how social norms and performative expectations shape carers’ sense of autonomy, guilt and identity, underscoring the need for supportive policies that address both the stresses and potential eudaimonic benefits of care provision. Across diverse settings, research advocates for targeted interventions to alleviate burden, promote coping resources and enhance the positive dimensions of the caregiving experience.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Caregiving Dynamics and Mental Health Outcomes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in caregiving dynamics and mental health outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Informal caregiving: Unpaid care provided by family members or friends to individuals with health or functional needs.

Caregiving intensity: The volume of time and complexity of tasks involved in the caregiving role, often linked to mental health impacts.

Eudaimonic well-being: A dimension of well-being characterised by purpose, meaning and personal growth rather than pleasure alone.

Subjective burden: The caregiver’s perceived strain and emotional toll arising from their caring responsibilities.

References

1. The Well-Being Costs of Informal Caregiving. Psychological Science (2024).
2. The role of performativity in informal dementia carers' capability to be mobile. Social Science & Medicine (2023).
3. Family care during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany: longitudinal evidence on consequences for the well-being of caregivers. European Journal of Ageing (2023).
4. The double-edged sword of becoming a caregiver: dynamic impact on four dimensions of well-being in Norway. BMC Psychology (2024).