[When non-kin caregivers provide home care: additional burden or personal benefit for friends, neighbours, and acquaintances? - Findings from an exploratory cross-sectional study].

Background: Although the proportion of non-kin caregivers providing home care for friends, neighbours, and acquaintances is steadily increasing, there is a lack of research that goes beyond the general characteristics of this subgroup. The aim of this exploratory study is to provide the first in-depth examination of the non-kin caregiver population and highlight differences between non-kin and family caregivers in terms of the burden and perceived benefits of informal care. Methods: The data are based on a representative sample (n=2927) of non-kin and family caregivers of statutorily insured care recipients, surveyed in a cross-sectional study in cooperation with MD Bayern. The general characteristics, burden, and perceived benefits of non-kin caregivers (n=71) were examined. The main focus was on comparative analyses with family caregivers (n=2856) using χ²-tests and independent samples t-tests, or corresponding non-parametric tests. Results: Non-kin and family caregivers did not differ in terms of general characteristics. Despite having the same objective burden (t(74.45)=1.80, p=0.077), non-kin caregivers perceived the caregiving situation as significantly less burdensome (t(72.56)=2.57, p=0.012), experienced significantly more benefits from informal care (t(2925)=-3.37, p<0.001), and rated their mental health significantly more positively (t(72.84)=-2.52, p=0.014). Conclusion: Non-kin caregivers are less likely to experience high levels of subjective burden and often derive greater personal benefit from the support, care, or assistance of someone from their neighborhood, social circle, or acquaintances. As such, they represent a valuable resource that could help strengthen informal care in the future.