Ishita Roy

Who Are "Sandwich Carers"? Why Are Their Mental Health Declining?

Who are Sandwich Carers?

Have you seen someone or felt like you have become sandwiched between two different responsibilities? You must have seen people who take care of their children and also their ageing parents? This is what we will be discussing today and how the burden of responsibility leads to a decline in their mental well-being.

<h4>What are <span rel="noindex">Sandwich Carers</span>?</h4>

The term "sandwich carers" refers to those who care for both their dependent children and elderly parents or relatives. They are "sandwiched" between two generations, managing the responsibilities of <span>parenting</span> and elder care. This condition is growing more common as people's life expectancy increases and they opt to have children later in life.

As per a UCL study supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, in UK alone it is estimated that around 1.3 million people are sandwich carers. While their role is vital for family well-being, the toll on their mental and physical health is significant. This new study by UCL researchers sheds light on the impact of this caregiving burden.

In order to understand how becoming a sandwich carer affects health, researchers analysed data from approximately 2,000 sandwich carers and 2,000 non-sandwich carers. They also used the information from the UK Household Longitudinal Study collected between 2009 to 2020. 

The study analysed an average age of sandwich carers at 36.8 years, with the majority being adults between 30 to 49. This group was most likely to bear this dual caregiving responsibility, found the study.

Researchers monitored the participants’ mental and physical health during three phases: before, during, and after they became sandwich carers.

<h4>They used two primary tools for health assessment:</h4>

<strong>General Health Questionnaire (GHQ):</strong> This measured <span>mental health</span> by asking participants about issues like sleep disturbances, concentration problems, and stress.

<strong>Physical Component Summary (PCS):</strong> This evaluated physical health, including general health, mobility, and limitations caused by physical health problems.

The study found that their was a noticeable decline in mental health, impact on physical health, as well as the gender impacted on the caregiving hours.

<strong>Mental Health and its decline in sandwich carers: T</strong>he study noted that people who were switching between taking care of their children and ageing parents, especially those who devote more than 20 hours each week to care saw a more severe impact. This degradation lasted several years, emphasizing the long-term mental burden of juggling two caregiving responsibilities.

<strong>Physical Health:</strong> <span>Caregivers</span> who worked more than 20 hours each week reported having lower physical health. This resulted in increasing physical discomfort, reduced mobility, and difficulty doing everyday duties.

<strong>Gender and Hour: </strong>The study found that, while both men and women were hurt, those who provided intense care suffered the most health issues.

Dr. Baowen Xue, who is the lead author of this study emphasized on the urgent need for societal recognition of the challenges faced by sandwich carers. “Our study highlights the significant mental and physical health challenges faced by sandwich carers. It's crucial that we recognise and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience,” Dr. Xue stated.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

parenting

sandwich carers

mental health

parenting your parents

taking care of ageing parents

caregivers

who are sandwich carers

Boost Your Brainpower Every Morning With This Simple Meal

Is Your Headache Linked To Your Eyes? Here's How To Tell

Daily Skincare Guide: Natural Remedies To Balance Oily And Acne-Prone Skin

Parenting

10 Tips To Help Muscle Recovery

6-6-6 Walking Routine Can Help You Stay Fit

10 Breathing Exercises To Try When You’re Feeling Anxious

10 Ways To Beat Morning Fatigue

10 Type Of Squats You Can Do For Weight Loss

Soaked vs. Roasted Chickpeas: Which One is Healthier?

10 Ways For Busy People To Stay Active

10 High-Calorie Foods to Watch Out For At Gatherings

10 Brain Exercises to Improve Your Focus and Memory

Creative Ways to Complete Your 10,000 Steps Indoors

10 Best Carb Choices for Managing Type 2 Diabetes

10 White Foods to Avoid for Better Weight Loss Results

10 Delicious Mediterranean Diet Dinners: Low-Carb and High-Protein Options

Healthy and Protein-Packed Late-Night Snacks to Satisfy Your Cravings

10 Negative Habits That Drain Your Mind’s Power

10 Brain-Boosting Activities to Sharpen Your Mind

10 Protein-Rich Breakfast Dishes To Try

10 Signs Your Heart Is Healthy

10 Foods To Improve Your Brain Health

10 Foods That Boost Your Metabolism

10 Exercise To Improve Grip Strength

10 Staple Foods To Make Eating Healthy Easier

10 Foods You Should Eat If You Are Weight-Training

10 Basics Rules Of Weight Training

10 Ways To Deal With Winter Dry Skin

Workout Week: 10 Back Exercises To Do At Gym

10 Healthy Chicken Recipes For Winter

10 Morning Habits That Can Make You Sick

10 Superfood To Help You Build Immunity

10 Cardio Exercises To Lose Belly Fat

10 Benefits Of Morning Runs

10 Intermittent Fasting Mistakes People Make

10 Toxic Morning Habits To Quit

10 Natural Ways To You Deal With Winter Dryness

10 Reasons Why Pickles Are Good For Winters

10 Healthy Custard Apple Recipes

10 Fun Activities To Build Your Kid’s Strength

10 Benefits Of Fenugreek Leaves

10 Exercises To Target Your Glutes

10 Dairy Alternative For Lactose Intolerant People

Have you seen someone or felt like you have become sandwiched between two different responsibilities? You must have seen people who take care of their children and also their ageing parents? This is what we will be discussing today and how the burden of responsibility leads to a decline in their mental well-being.What are Sandwich Carers?The term "sandwich carers" refers to those who care for both their dependent children and elderly parents or relatives. They are "sandwiched" between two generations, managing the responsibilities of parenting and elder care. This condition is growing more common as people's life expectancy increases and they opt to have children later in life.As per a UCL study supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, in UK alone it is estimated that around 1.3 million people are sandwich carers. While their role is vital for family well-being, the toll on their mental and physical health is significant. This new study by UCL researchers sheds light on the impact of this caregiving burden.What the study says?In order to understand how becoming a sandwich carer affects health, researchers analysed data from approximately 2,000 sandwich carers and 2,000 non-sandwich carers. They also used the information from the UK Household Longitudinal Study collected between 2009 to 2020. The study analysed an average age of sandwich carers at 36.8 years, with the majority being adults between 30 to 49. This group was most likely to bear this dual caregiving responsibility, found the study.Researchers monitored the participants’ mental and physical health during three phases: before, during, and after they became sandwich carers.They used two primary tools for health assessment:General Health Questionnaire (GHQ): This measured mental health by asking participants about issues like sleep disturbances, concentration problems, and stress.Physical Component Summary (PCS): This evaluated physical health, including general health, mobility, and limitations caused by physical health problems.What were the key findings?The study found that their was a noticeable decline in mental health, impact on physical health, as well as the gender impacted on the caregiving hours.Mental Health and its decline in sandwich carers: The study noted that people who were switching between taking care of their children and ageing parents, especially those who devote more than 20 hours each week to care saw a more severe impact. This degradation lasted several years, emphasizing the long-term mental burden of juggling two caregiving responsibilities.Physical Health: Caregivers who worked more than 20 hours each week reported having lower physical health. This resulted in increasing physical discomfort, reduced mobility, and difficulty doing everyday duties.Gender and Hour: The study found that, while both men and women were hurt, those who provided intense care suffered the most health issues.Dr. Baowen Xue, who is the lead author of this study emphasized on the urgent need for societal recognition of the challenges faced by sandwich carers. “Our study highlights the significant mental and physical health challenges faced by sandwich carers. It's crucial that we recognise and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience,” Dr. Xue stated.

Who Are 'Sandwich Carers'? Why Are Their Mental Health Declining?

who are "sandwich carers"? why are their mental health declining?

About Us

Contact Us

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Company

Health and Me is a premium website with content written and curated to function as a handbook for all Health concerns.

Who Are 'Sandwich Carers'? Why Are Their Mental Health Declining?

Cushion Support For Your Babies: How To Use It Safely?

Good News For Parents: Baby Food Labels Must Reveal Lead And Other Heavy Metals

11 Ways To Know If Your Baby Is Hungry?

Health Conditions A-Z

Boost Your Brainpower Every Morning With This Simple Meal

Is Your Headache Linked To Your Eyes? Here's How To Tell

Daily Skincare Guide: Natural Remedies To Balance Oily And Acne-Prone Skin