Non-response Bias in the Longitudinal Survey of Middle-aged and Elderly Persons: Focusing on Non-respondents in Informal Caregiving

Abstract

Previous studies using panel data excluding missing data might have overlooked the impacts of mentally ill-health persons' non-response in informal caregiving. In this study I revealed the characteristics of non-respondents in informal caregiving and examined potential bias of non-response in informal caregiving. Poor mental health status of non-respondents is associated with non-response in informal caregiving. Non-respondents in informal caregiving in females tend to continue non-response. The middle-aged or older persons being physical poor health status or having medication tend to respond the questionnaire in informal caregiving. In contrast, never-married persons or mentally ill-health persons do not tend to respond it. The main determinants of non-respondents in informal caregiving in males are poor mental health. The impacts of informal caregiving provided by males on their mental health might have been underestimated. A panel data including non-respondents in informal caregiving should be constructed in the future study.