On 23 April 2026, Mariam Kirvalidze successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled “Older adults’ contribution to informal caregiving: profiles, adverse health consequences, and support interventions” at Karolinska Institutet. Her work, conducted at the Aging Research Center (ARC), highlights the often-overlooked experiences of older informal caregivers and the important role they play in sustaining care systems in aging societies.
The thesis explores how caregiving affects older adults’ health, wellbeing, and daily lives, while also examining which forms of support may help caregivers maintain their own quality of life. Using SNAC-K data, as well as nationwide survey data, and evidence reviews, the research provides new insights into the diversity of caregiving experiences in later life.
The findings show that although most older caregivers provide relatively low-intensity support, a substantial minority take on highly demanding caregiving responsibilities, often comparable to full-time care. High-intensity caregiving was associated with greater mental strain, sleep problems, social limitations, and reduced quality of life, particularly among women, spousal caregivers, and adults over the age of 75.
From left: Lucas Morin, Joseph E. Gaugler, Mariam Kirvalidze, Lena Dahlberg and Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga.
From SNAC-K coordination group, we would like to warmly congratulate Mariam on this important contribution to research on aging and caregiving. Her work provides valuable evidence for policymakers and health systems seeking to better support informal caregivers in aging populations.
We would also like to acknowledge the support and guidance of the supervisory team led by Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga, together with co-supervisors Lena Dahlberg, Elizabeth Hanson and Lucas Morin.
Full thesis available here:
Older adults’ contribution to informal caregiving: profiles, adverse health consequences, and support interventions