By Stephen Beech
People who care for both their children and older relatives suffer from deterioration in both their mental and physical health, according to a new study.
It is estimated that there are 1.3 million so-called “sandwich carers” in the UK juggling the responsibilities of caring for aging parents or older relatives while raising dependent children under the age of 16.
And the number of people in that situation is growing due to longer life expectancy and women having children later in life, say scientists.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) wanted to address the gap in understanding how becoming a sandwich carer affects mental and physical health over time.
They analysed data from around 2,000 sandwich carers and 2,000 non-sandwich carers from the UK Household Longitudinal Study between 2009 and 2020.
The average age of the sandwich carers studied was 36.8 years old as people aged 30 to 49 are the most likely to be looking after both young and old relatives.
The research team tracked the health of both groups over nine years using questionnaires, focusing on the period before, during and after becoming a sandwich carer.
They then used statistical models to predict health changes and compared the two groups.
The researchers looked at how health changed during the transition into sandwich care and tested if the changes were different between the two groups.
They also examined whether the number of caregiving hours and gender affected health changes.
Mental health was measured using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) scores, which are a tally of participants’ responses to questions about their mental health, such as whether they had recently had issues concentrating or sleeping or had been feeling under strain.
A Physical Component Summary (PCS) assesses summary scores of physical health, covering areas such as general health, mobility, body pain and limitations in everyday tasks due to physical health problems.
The findings showed that parents who became sandwich carers experienced a “significant” decline in mental health – especially those dedicating more than 20 hours per week to caregiving – compared with non-sandwich carers.
The mental health decline persisted for several years, according to a study published in the journal Public Health.
Intensive caregivers, dedicating more than 20 hours per week, also saw a deterioration in their physical health during the transition.
Study Lead author Dr. Baowen Xue, of UCL, said: “Our study highlights the significant mental and physical health challenges faced by sandwich carers.
“These individuals, who balance the demands of caring for both their children and ageing parents, often experience a decline in their well-being.
“It’s crucial that we recognize and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience.”
The researchers are now calling for better support for those affected.
Dr. Xue said: “The study underscores the need for society to recognize and support the unique challenges faced by sandwich carers.”
She added: “Providing targeted support and resources, such as access to respite care and workplace flexibility, is crucial to help maintain their health and well-being, particularly for those offering intensive care.”
