Sandwich Generation - About the Project

This study was funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between work and family roles over time among middle and upper income dual-earner couples in the U.S. who are sandwiched between the responsibilities of caring for children and caring for one or more aging parents.

The study extends previous research by: (a) addressing a previously unexamined sub-population of dual-earner couples (the "sandwiched generation"); (b) identifying the range of work and family accommodations made in an attempt to balance work and family life; (c) gathering data from both members of the couple; (d) employing a longitudinal research design, enabling the examination of work-family accommodations and their effects over time; (e) exploring a new conceptual model of the work-family interface that includes a broader array of outcome variables; and (f) developing a better understanding of the work-family interface by examining both positive and negative effects of combining work and family roles.

Method

This three-year project involved the collection of longitudinal qualitative and quantitative data. The project began with 17 focus groups which were held locally with 63 members of sandwiched couples to learn about the work-family accommodations made and coping strategies used by these couples in an effort to balance their work and family roles. The work and family accommodations identified were then used to construct a measure of coping strategies for inclusion in the national mailed survey.

A national age-targeted sample of both members of dual-earner sandwiched generation couples was then identified by telephone and surveyed by mail; 309 couples/618 individuals who met the study’s criteria responded. These couples were queried concerning their work and family characteristics and responsibilities, the extent to which they had implemented various work and family accommodations, and outcomes associated with their multiple work and caregiving roles (e.g., physical and mental health, family, job, and life satisfaction, work-family conflict and positive spillover, work withdrawal). Participants were re-surveyed by mail one year later to assess changes in work and family characteristics, work and family accommodations, and outcomes; both members of 234 of the couples returned the second survey.

Following completion of the second mailed survey, telephone interviews were conducted with 24 individuals whose well-being had improved the most and 24 individuals whose well-being had deteriorated the most over the year between the two mailed surveys to learn what contributed to these changes.

Two focus groups were reconvened to determine what role changes the couples had experienced, if the couples had altered their work and family accommodations in any way, and the reasons for such changes. This information was useful in the interpretation of the survey and telephone interview data.

Findings

Screening interviews indicated that between 9% and 13% of dual-earner households with adults between the ages of 30 and 60 years old are sandwiched between the responsibilities of caring for their children and caring for their aging parent(s). One objective of the study was to examine the types of work and family accommodations made by dual-earner sandwiched couples, and the outcomes of these accommodations. Data from the focus groups and surveys revealed that these couples incorporate a wide variety of work and family accommodations and coping strategies to manage their multiple responsibilities. Based on the focus groups, several specific possible strategies were identified, and items for the mailed survey instrument were constructed. Survey data revealed the following one-time, or limited use, work accommodations in the previous year: 31% of wives had reduced the number of hours worked, 27% refused or limited travel, 24% had chosen a job that gave more flexibility to meet family demands, and 21% had refused or decided not to work toward promotion. Among the husbands, 23% had refused or limited travel, and 17% had reduced the number of hours worked.

In addition, a factor analysis of the general coping strategies that respondents used revealed three basic types of coping strategies: those that increase emotional resources, those that involve prioritization, and those that decrease social involvement. Survey data indicated that using coping strategies that increase emotional resources and prioritization was associated with improved work-family fit (i.e., decreased work-family conflict and increased work-family positive spillover). However, the use of coping strategies that decrease social involvement was associated decreased work-family fit.

A somewhat serendipitous finding from the study was that aging parents provide help to their adult children, as well as receive assistance from them, and this help is associated with both benefits and costs for the adult children. Older parents provide a considerable amount of help to their adult children in the form of financial assistance, emotional support, and help with child care and household tasks. This help, however, can be a mixed blessing. For the adult children in this study, receiving emotional support from an aging parent(s) was associated with a better quality relationship with that parent(s), as well as increased self-ratings of performance as a caregiver. Receipt of the three forms of tangible support (i.e., financial, help with child care, and help with household tasks), however, was associated with working less effectively because of concern or being upset about their aging parents.

Of special interest in this study was the extent to which stress and strain are transmitted between members of dual-earner sandwiched couples. The results suggest that when individuals make use of alternative work arrangements, they are likely to see beneficial effects on their spouse’s job satisfaction, and that when individuals perceive that they have flexibility in their work schedule, their spouse will benefit as well, with decreased work-family conflict.

These findings will be of interest to social science researchers interested in work-family issues, public policy makers, clinicians, and individuals and couples who themselves are caring for both children and aging parents. The increased understanding gained of the factors contributing to negative and positive outcomes and of the work and family accommodations that improve work-family fit will help couples better balance their paid work and unpaid child and parent care responsibilities. The findings are also useful for guiding the design of workplace programs and other services to meet the needs of these couples so as to minimize negative impacts and maximize positive effects of having both multiple caregiving and employment roles. Thus, the quality of these couples' personal, family, and work lives, and the lives of the children and elders for whom they are providing care, can ultimately be improved.

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Leslie B. Hammer, Ph.D.	Margaret B. Neal, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology	Institute on Aging

Purpose

Method

Findings

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