The relationship between work and health in unpaid carers: part II of a scoping review and new model
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, University of Liverpool
- 2Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
- 3School of Health Sciences, Bangor University
- 4NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast
- 5School of Health Research, Lancaster University
- 6Department of Sociology, University of Manchester
- 7Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool
Abstract
Background Unpaid carers can struggle to manage caring duties alongside paid employment, often consequently changing their work role, reducing hours or leaving employment. However, less is known about how working whilst delivering unpaid care is linked to physical and/or mental health outcomes. Thus, the aim of this scoping review was to explore and compare the existing published evidence on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers for dependants aged 18 + . Methods Four online databases were searched in October 2025 for published research on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers, in English or German, and published between 2000 and 2025. Papers were not restricted by methodological approach. Three researchers reviewed titles and abstracts, then two research team members screened full texts. Any disagreements were discussed and settled within the wider research team. Results Fifty-eight papers from 21 countries met inclusion criteria for this review. Evidence was categorised into three levels, informing a new model on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers – the Carers’ Work and Health Support Model: Personal; workplace; and system and society factors. The relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers is complex, with some carers benefitting from working longer hours and others being negatively affected. The majority of evidence reported negative impacts on mental health when having unpaid caring duties whilst in employment, with supportive management and colleagues critical for wellbeing. Conclusions This novel scoping review is the first to present a co-produced and systematically evidence-derived model on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers. Work-place based interventions need to be designed and tested to improve employee well-being and maintain unpaid carers in the paid workforce.
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BibTeX
@article{giebel2026relationship,
title = {{The relationship between work and health in unpaid carers: part II of a scoping review and new model}},
author = {Clarissa Giebel and Leah Shinn and Sheena Johnson and Gill Windle and Joan Carton and Jennie Popay and Debora Price and William Whittaker and Mark Gabbay},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28522-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28522-7},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The relationship between work and health in unpaid carers: part II of a scoping review and new model
AU - Clarissa Giebel
AU - Leah Shinn
AU - Sheena Johnson
AU - Gill Windle
AU - Joan Carton
AU - Jennie Popay
AU - Debora Price
AU - William Whittaker
AU - Mark Gabbay
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28522-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28522-7
AB - Background Unpaid carers can struggle to manage caring duties alongside paid employment, often consequently changing their work role, reducing hours or leaving employment. However, less is known about how working whilst delivering unpaid care is linked to physical and/or mental health outcomes. Thus, the aim of this scoping review was to explore and compare the existing published evidence on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers for dependants aged 18 + . Methods Four online databases were searched in October 2025 for published research on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers, in English or German, and published between 2000 and 2025. Papers were not restricted by methodological approach. Three researchers reviewed titles and abstracts, then two research team members screened full texts. Any disagreements were discussed and settled within the wider research team. Results Fifty-eight papers from 21 countries met inclusion criteria for this review. Evidence was categorised into three levels, informing a new model on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers – the Carers’ Work and Health Support Model: Personal; workplace; and system and society factors. The relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers is complex, with some carers benefitting from working longer hours and others being negatively affected. The majority of evidence reported negative impacts on mental health when having unpaid caring duties whilst in employment, with supportive management and colleagues critical for wellbeing. Conclusions This novel scoping review is the first to present a co-produced and systematically evidence-derived model on the relationship between paid work and health in unpaid carers. Work-place based interventions need to be designed and tested to improve employee well-being and maintain unpaid carers in the paid workforce.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -