P-152 Mental health and employment consequences among informal caregivers at work a Danish nationwide register-study. (14th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen, Johan Høy; Flachs, Esben Meulengracht; Gensby, Ulrik; Thorup, Anne AE; We, Hannah Maimin; Alba Hidalgo, Miguel Angel; Albertsen, Karen
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 80(2023)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A42
• Page End: A43
• Publication Date: 2023-03-14
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/OEM-2023-EPICOH.101
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Frequencies of mental health conditions are increasing among children and adolescents. Providing long-term informal care for family members has been associated with detrimental stress-related outcomes. This study examines health and job impacts for working caregivers, who have children with mental disorders. Material and Methods: This Danish nationwide register-study is part of the project 'Informal caregivers at work' (www.ppjob.dk), phase II, and examines health and job impacts for primary caregivers to children with a mental disorder in the period from 2000 to 2005. We will assess these possible longitudinal associations with follow-up up to 10 years after their child's incident mental disorder. The exposure group (i.e., primary caregivers to children with a mental disorder) will be matched to a similar reference group (primary caregivers to children without a mental disorder) established from the background working population. We will use data from national and administrative registers merged with psychosocial job-exposure matrices (www.doc-x.dk) to evaluate the mitigating role of specific psychosocial factors on the associations between information caregiving and negative outcomes, including if specific occupational groups carry particular risk. The present study will be conducted between 2023–2024. Communication with target-population representatives and stakeholders is integrated as Knowledge Transfer and Exchange (KTE) activities throughout the project. Results: A communication platform has been established. We expect that the results from the register study will highlight informal caregiving to children with mental disorders as a risk factor for stress-related outcomes, including excess mental health problems, sick leave from work, loss of income, and change in employment status. We hope to identify psychosocial factors mitigating these associations as well as specific occupational groups as potential targets for interventions. Conclusions: Insights from this study will be integrated in further work and KTE activities to develop interventions improving management and support of informal caregivers at work.