This investigation obtained data from the Whitehall II cohort study, which originally recruited 10,308 British civil service workers aged 35–55 years during the period 1985–1988. Follow-ups were conducted at every subsequent phase approximately every 2 years. Phase 3 (1991–1994) served as the baseline for this present investigation, which involved 5419 subjects who were not caregivers at this point. During phase 4 (1995–1996), 304 subjects became caregivers to an aged or disabled relative. Assessments of smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise at baseline and follow-up (phase 5, 1997–1999) revealed that those who became caregivers were more likely to increase frequency of alcohol consumption, but only if they also reported low decision latitude at work (OR 1.65; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.37 vs non-caregivers with average decision latitude), or belonged to a low occupational social class (OR 2.38; 95% CI, 1.17 to 4.78 vs non-caregivers of high occupational social class). Caregivers were more likely to quit smoking if job demands were low (OR 2.92; 95% CI ,1.07 to 7.92 vs non-caregivers with low job demands), or if social support at work was high (OR 2.99; 95% CI, 1.01 to 8.86 vs caregivers with average social support). There was no effect of caregiving on reducing exercise below recommended number of hours per week, or on drinking above recommended number of units per week, regardless of job demands. Estimates were generally unchanged after the researchers adjusted for baseline long-term illness and depressive symptoms.
