TY - JOUR
T1 - Observed effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life satisfaction, psychological distress and loneliness of Australian carers and non-carers
AU - Abbasi-Shavazi, Azadeh
AU - Biddle, Nicholas
AU - Edwards, Ben
AU - Jahromi, Maria
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Policy Press 2022.
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Using six waves of longitudinal data, we investigate wellbeing, psychological distress and loneliness differences between informal carers and non-carers in the context of COVID-19-related policy changes in Australia. Wellbeing levels fluctuated along with the virus case numbers. Free childcare temporarily alleviated the disparity between carers and non-carers, but by its cessation, carers, in particular, reported lower wellbeing and higher psychological distress. Wage subsidies and income supports had opposing effects for carers’ and non-carers’ mental health but decreased the loneliness of both groups. Victorians, living in the state where the second wave of infections in Australia was concentrated, experienced worse outcomes than other Australians.
AB - Using six waves of longitudinal data, we investigate wellbeing, psychological distress and loneliness differences between informal carers and non-carers in the context of COVID-19-related policy changes in Australia. Wellbeing levels fluctuated along with the virus case numbers. Free childcare temporarily alleviated the disparity between carers and non-carers, but by its cessation, carers, in particular, reported lower wellbeing and higher psychological distress. Wage subsidies and income supports had opposing effects for carers’ and non-carers’ mental health but decreased the loneliness of both groups. Victorians, living in the state where the second wave of infections in Australia was concentrated, experienced worse outcomes than other Australians.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Informal carers
KW - Life satisfaction
KW - Psychological distress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85126764332&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1332/239788221X16323394592678
DO - 10.1332/239788221X16323394592678
M3 - Article
SN - 2397-8821
VL - 6
SP - 179
EP - 209
JO - International Journal of Care and Caring
JF - International Journal of Care and Caring
IS - 1-2
ER -