Extensive research has identified the negative impacts associated with informal care work. However, the study of how informal caregivers are socially perceived remains largely neglected in the literature, despite evidence indicating they lack social recognition and support. This work aims to analyze the factors contributing to their social devaluation, by employing complementary methodological approaches. To achieve this goal, we conducted five studies. A cross-sectional study revealed that informal caregivers are exposed to high work demands and low resources, especially in terms of recognition, justice and respect, and social support from the Portuguese State (Article 1). Two experimental studies examined the effects of being an informal caregiver and their gender using an emotion-based measure of dehumanization. Findings revealed that informal caregivers were dehumanized by being attributed fewer uniquely human emotions than non-caregivers, regardless of their gender. Moreover, individuals with higher Belief in a Just World (BJW) were more likely to dehumanize informal caregivers, and both BJW and dehumanization predicted a lower perception of informal caregivers’ suffering (Article 2). Two other experimental studies further examined the effects of being an informal caregiver and their socioeconomic status (SES) using two trait-based measures of dehumanization. Results replicated the expected dehumanization effect, regardless of their SES (Article 3). Overall, this thesis underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting informal caregivers in society.

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Dehumanization,Psychosocial factors,Belief in a just world,Perceptions of suffering,Health and well-being,Gender,Socioeconomic status

• Psychology - Social Sciences