Study shows mental and physical health of ‘sandwich caregivers’ declines

People who care for both their children and older family members, also known as “sandwich caregivers,” suffer worsening mental and physical health over time, according to a new study by researchers from UCL.

The research, published in Public health, analyzed data from approximately 2,000 sandwich and 2,000 non-sandwich carers from the British Household Longitudinal Study between 2009 and 2020.

Sandwich caregivers juggle the responsibilities of caring for aging parents or elderly loved ones while raising dependent children (under the age of 16). The number of people in this situation is increasing due to increasing life expectancy and women having children later in life.

In the UK, an estimated 1.3 million people work in sandwiches.

To reflect this growing problem, researchers wanted to fill the gap in understanding how being a sandwich caregiver affects mental and physical health over time.

They tracked the health of both groups for nine years using questionnaires, focusing on the period before, during and after becoming a sandwich caregiver. They then used statistical models to predict changes in health and compared the two groups.

The average age of the sandwich caregivers studied was 36.8 years. In fact, people aged 30 to 49 are most likely to be sandwich caregivers.

The researchers examined changes in health during the transition to sandwich care and tested whether these changes were different between the two groups. They also examined whether the number of hours of care and gender affected these health changes.

Mental health was measured using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) scores, which are a sum of participants’ responses to questions about their health status. mental healthfor example if they had recently had problems concentrating or sleeping or if they were feeling stressed.

Meanwhile, a Physical Component Summary (PCS) assessed physical health summary scores, covering various domains such as general health, mobility, body pain, and limitations in daily tasks due to physical health problems.

Researchers found that parents who became sandwich caregivers experienced a significant decline in their mental health, especially those who spent more than 20 hours per week providing care, compared to non-sandwich caregivers.

This decline in mental health persisted for several years.

In addition, intensive caregivers (more than 20 hours per week) saw their physical health deteriorate during this transition.

Lead author Dr Baowen Xue (UCL Epidemiology & Health Care) said: “Our study highlights the mental and physical health challenges faced by sandwich caregivers. These people, who must balance the demands of caring for their children and aging parents, often experience a decline in their well-being. It is crucial that we recognize and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience. »

Following their findings, researchers are now calling for better support for those affected.

Dr Xue added: “The study highlights the need for society to recognize and support the unique challenges faced by sandwiched caregivers. Providing targeted support and resources, such as access to respite care and workplace flexibility, is crucial to helping them maintain their health and wellbeing. -be, especially for those who offer intensive care“.