Extinguishing the Fire at Both Ends: The Dual Family-Caregiving Stress of the Sandwich Generation of China’s “4-2-2” Families

Abstract

China’s fertility policy and population aging have produced many “4-2-2”–structured sandwich families, placing the sandwich generation under dual caregiving stress. Through reflective lifeworld research and multilevel interviews with 14 “4-2-2” families, we confirmed that the essence of “dual stress” was the competing responsibilities of caring for older adults and children. This essence can be further illustrated by the vulnerability of the cared-for, lack of emotional resources, socio-educational anxiety, and family livelihood pressure. In addition, the dual stress can jeopardize the well-being of the sandwich generation as family caregivers. However, this dilemma can be alleviated by intergenerational support-balancing, alternative digital-technology, and complementary social-care strategies. Understanding the lifeworld of sandwich families presents practical approaches and policy implications for caregiving-support systems.