Pashazade Hakime, Maarefvand Masoomeh, Abolfathi Momtaz Yadollah, Abdi Kianoush
Department of Social Work, School of Social Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Dec 4;24(1):3373. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20327-w.
The sandwich generation refers to individuals who are simultaneously responsible for caring for their aging parents and their own children. Research shows that the number of sandwich generation caregivers is increasing, and they face significant physical, psychological, social, and economic challenges. Therefore, it is crucial for these caregivers to develop effective coping strategies. This study aimed to identify the coping mechanisms used by sandwich generation caregivers.
In 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 18 sandwich generation caregivers in Tehran, Iran, who were responsible for both elderly parents and their own children. These interviews were conducted either in person or by telephone. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed using the inductive content analysis method within the MAXQDA software (2018 version).
Data analysis revealed three categories of coping strategies: "distancing from the situation", "self-soothing" (including sub categories of spiritual matters, establishing relationships, emotional outlet, and engaging in favorite activities), and "diversifying responses to needs" (including transferring responsibility to the family members, prioritizing needs for responsiveness, utilizing available community services, mediating to reduce conflict, and remote monitoring of the older adult).
Sandwich generation caregivers use various coping strategies, each with different outcomes. This study found that self-care and using social resources can greatly reduce caregiving burdens. Therefore, providing these caregivers with training in problem-solving and self-care skills is recommended to better prepare them for their responsibilities.
夹心一代指的是那些同时负责照顾年迈父母和自己子女的人。研究表明，夹心一代照顾者的数量正在增加，他们面临着重大的身体、心理、社会和经济挑战。因此，这些照顾者制定有效的应对策略至关重要。本研究旨在确定夹心一代照顾者所采用的应对机制。
2022年，在新冠疫情期间，我们进行了一项定性研究，对伊朗德黑兰的18名夹心一代照顾者进行了半结构化访谈，他们既要照顾年迈的父母，又要照顾自己的子女。这些访谈通过面对面或电话方式进行。随后，使用MAXQDA软件（2018版）中的归纳性内容分析法对收集到的数据进行分析。
数据分析揭示了三类应对策略：“与情况保持距离”、“自我抚慰”（包括精神层面、建立人际关系、情绪宣泄和参与喜爱的活动等子类别）以及“对需求的应对方式多样化”（包括将责任转移给家庭成员、优先考虑响应需求、利用现有的社区服务、进行调解以减少冲突以及对老年人进行远程监测）。
夹心一代照顾者采用各种应对策略，每种策略都有不同的结果。本研究发现自我照顾和利用社会资源可以大大减轻照顾负担。因此，建议为这些照顾者提供解决问题和自我照顾技能方面的培训，以便他们更好地履行职责。
