Research summary
In the context of aging, informal caregiving describes unpaid care provided by family members, friends or community members to older adults who need help with daily activities. As aging populations grow, the demand for informal caregiving is increasing, too—but stigma around this role can make caregivers feel undervalued or overburdened. As Canada Research Chair in Social Psychology of Aging, Dr. Larissa Zwar is exploring how stereotypes, attitudes and discrimination toward informal caregiving affect caregivers and others.
She and her research team are validating and translating tools that measure stigma to analyze this issue across different cultural and social groups, including marginalized communities. They are also investigating how stigma affects caregiver well-being, support systems, and the performance of care, as well as how it influences non-caregivers’ willingness to take on caregiving roles. Zwar’s research will provide new insights to support policy, support systems and interventions that promote more inclusive, supportive caregiving environments.