Challenges of the Sandwich Generation: Stress and coping strategy of the multigenerational care

Abstract

Abstract. The Sandwich Generation is defined as those in multigenerational care positions and caregivers for children and parents or in-laws. They are often found in an extended families in Indonesia. Multigenerational parenting carried out by the Sandwich Generation can pose various challenges and problems, especially for Sandwich Generation working females, who must juggle their parenting loads with workplace demands. The Sandwich Generation is at risk for various mental health problems, including stress, depression, and anxiety. The purpose of this study is to describe the stress and coping strategies of the Sandwich Generation. The participants were 12 Sandwich Generation working females a mean age of 36. We applied a phenomenological qualitative approach with Interviews and Focus Group Discussions to collect our data. The result showed that stress occurs mainly in situations when parenting demands arise simultaneously, when both children and parents simultaneously need attention. Stress that appears generally has more impact on the emotional aspects of participants rather than on the physical one, such as feelings of sadness, guilt, and unstable emotions, and in terms of cognitive, forgetfulness, loss of concentration, and overthinking. Coping strategies used by the Sandwich Generation are emotionfocused coping strategies and problem-focused coping strategies. Emotion-focused coping strategies revealed distancing, escape-avoidance, accepting responsibility, self-control, and seeking emotional social support. We found only three problem-focused coping strategies: confrontative coping, seeking informational support, and planful problem-solving.Keywords: sandwich generation; stress; coping strategies

Well-Being support by Sandwich generation in the Films Cinta Pertama, Kedua, dan Ketiga

“…Well-being support can be obtained from various sources, including spouse, children, extended family, workplace, and also the surrounding environment [1], [31], [34], [35]. Well-being support also allows the Sandwich Generation to carry out appropriate coping strategies to minimize role conflicts that occur in their lives [7], [32], [36]. Positif relationships with other people will also make individual feel supported [37].…”

“…Parenting of the Sandwich Generation for the generation above it will run without a hitch if it is done with sincerity and is not seen as a burden, the quality of the relationship will also be maintained between this generation if they can respect and support each other [6], [18], [11], [25]. Multi-generational parenting certainly poses challenges for the Sandwich Generation, especially if their age is no longer young [7]. Dewa in his old age also experienced Alzheimer's just like Grandmother Nur.…”

“…One of the well-being supports obtained by the sandwich generation arises from the coping strategies used, confrontational coping strategies are generally more effective in overcoming problems than emotional coping strategies. Confrontational coping strategies focus on solving problems, not avoiding problems [7], [32].…”

“…Families containing three to four generations are increasingly common in contemporary society [5]. Individuals who live in extended families can generally be involved in multi-generational parenting and those who fall into this category are referred to as the Sandwich Generation [6], [7].…”

“…This research on the Sandwich Generation is important because those who fall into this category are individuals of productive age, and as is well known that the effective age population plays an important role in the progress of a nation, even though not all the productive age are included in the Sandwich Generation category. Based on a pilot study conducted by researchers, it was found that the stress that appeared in the Sandwich Generation was caused by emotional factors, not financial factors [7]. This emotional factor, among others, appears in the form of conflicts that occur with the generation above it, generally arising due to differences of opinion in parenting or the upper age who interferes in the household affairs of the Sandwich Generation.…”