Date Thesis Awarded
4-2020
Access Type
Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only
Degree Name
Bachelors of Arts (BA)
Department
Economics
Advisor
Jennifer Mellor
Committee Members
Katie Lopresti
Peter McHenry
Abstract
I examine the mental health and general health effects of providing informal care for one’s spouse using data from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States. Prior research has focused on children providing care for parents. In this paper, I provide the first analysis of these health effects among U.S. adults who provide care for their spouses. Using propensity score matching, I find that caregiving leads to an increase in depressive symptoms. Results are particularly strong and significant for female caregivers. I find that symptoms of depression increase with the intensity of caregiving. I find no evidence that caregiving leads to worse self-assessed health. This research is relevant to understanding the net benefit of informal caregiving in the context of the U.S. healthcare system.
Recommended Citation
Garrow, Renee, "Health Effects of Spousal Caregiving Among Elderly Americans" (2020). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 1484.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/1484
