The Impact of Child Caregiving-Related Life Changes on Caregivers’ Well-Being in Rural and Urban U.S. Areas

Abstract This study examines how child caregiving-related life changes are associated with subjective well-being, with particular attention to rural–urban differences across two U.S. regions. Using data from caregiving surveys, we compare the well-being of 888 rural and 2619 urban child caregivers. Caregiving status alone is not significantly associated with well-being after controlling for socioeconomic characteristics. Instead, specific caregiving-related adjustments matter. Employment disruptions and caring for a child with a long-term health condition are consistently associated with lower well-being, whereas caregiving-related educational changes are positively associated with well-being. Changes in living arrangements show no significant association with subjective well-being. Urban child caregivers report higher well-being than their rural counterparts, with income and employment stability playing significant roles. In contrast, children’s long-term health conditions have strong negative associations with rural caregivers’ well-being. Propensity score matching confirms that a rural well-being disadvantage persists beyond what is explained by observable socioeconomic differences. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of geographic location in shaping caregiving experiences and demonstrate that not all caregiving-related changes have the same implications for caregivers’ well-being. Policies aimed at supporting child caregivers should account for both geographic context and the specific life changes caregivers face.