Generazione Sandwich e le differenze di genere

Study Notes

La "generazione sandwiched" describes individuals, typically between 40 and 65 years old, who find themselves caring for both their adult children and elderly parents (Chisholm, 1999). This phenomenon is due to the lengthening of life expectancy.
Women are more likely than men to provide emotional and daily care to family members, while men are more likely to financially support elderly relatives (Chisholm, 1999).
75% of caregivers for elderly adults are women, with the typical caregiver being a sandwich generation woman caring for parents, children, and sometimes grandchildren.
This generation faces challenges such as time management, energy and resource balancing, and dealing with the needs of aging parents, adult children still dependent on parents, and work responsibilities.
Consequences for the sandwich generation include increased intergenerational stress, marital conflicts, and mental health problems, which can also affect children's well-being.
Sandwich generation as a normal life event: With 80% of elder care provided by families (Benchener, 1998, cited in Chisholm, 1999), the question arises if the sandwich generation experience is becoming a normative part of adult life in contemporary society.
Women with a strong sense of generativity have more positive attitudes towards caregiving and better coping strategies.
Effective coping strategies include acceptance and seeking social support, while focusing on emotions may be linked to depression and a lesser sense of control.
The role of the psychologist:
- Helping to recognize the contextual quality of elder care, including the impact of siblings' and spouses' relationships on caregiving capacity.
- Identifying strategies for creating a fair sharing of care responsibilities among adult siblings and couples.
- Exploring the caregiver's role in their family of origin may provide explanations for discomfort or frustration in caring for an aging parent.
- Interventions focused on "learning stories" in family narratives and reflection on the relationship with a dependent elderly parent.
- Addressing work-related responsibilities, building positive relationships, work flexibility, and career advancement.
- Evaluating the caregiver's skills, analyzing the abilities gained in the caregiving role and how they can be applied in the workplace.

Description

Esplora la generazione sandwich, in cui individui tra i 40 e i 65 anni si trovano a prendersi cura sia dei figli che dei genitori anziani a causa del prolungarsi delle aspettative di vita. Scopri anche le differenze di genere in questo fenomeno, con gli uomini più propensi a sostenere finanziariamente i familiari anziani e le donne più inclini a fornire supporto emotivo.