Lone parents: the invisible “sandwich generation"
Lone parents: the invisible “sandwich generation"
With increased life expectancy and delayed childbearing, it has become more common for people to care for both dependent children and ageing parents. Over the past three decades, the concept of the “Sandwich Generation” has evolved to encompass those in their 50s and 60s who support ageing parents while helping their own adult children, often with grandchild care. However, some sub-groups within the population may be more likely to be “sandwiched” than others.
This briefing presents findings from a study examining caregiving patterns from 1990 to 2020, revealing that lone parents are more likely to be “sandwiched” than couples with dependent children, especially when intensive caregiving is required. Notably, lone parents with young children are more likely to provide elder care and less likely to be employed full time. Policy changes linking welfare benefits to work requirements have added pressure on lone parents, who can face financial penalties if caregiving prevents them from working.
The findings show that the impact of caring on lone parents’ living standards remains a critical area for further exploration. Current benefit structures may need reform to support lone parents to manage both caregiving and employment more sustainably.
ESRC Centre for Population Change
Falkingham, Jane
8df36615-1547-4a6d-ad55-aa9496e85519
Evandrou, Maria
cd2210ea-9625-44d7-b0f4-fc0721a25d28
Qin, Min
10d55bfb-f7e6-409a-bcc5-6d2ba1f743e8
Vlachantoni, Athina
06a52fbb-f2a0-4c81-9fbc-d6efc736c6cb
31 October 2024
Falkingham, Jane
8df36615-1547-4a6d-ad55-aa9496e85519
Evandrou, Maria
cd2210ea-9625-44d7-b0f4-fc0721a25d28
Qin, Min
10d55bfb-f7e6-409a-bcc5-6d2ba1f743e8
Vlachantoni, Athina
06a52fbb-f2a0-4c81-9fbc-d6efc736c6cb
Falkingham, Jane, Evandrou, Maria, Qin, Min and Vlachantoni, Athina
(2024)
Lone parents: the invisible “sandwich generation"
(ESRC Centre for Population and Connecting Generations Policy Briefing Series, 79)
ESRC Centre for Population Change
4pp.
Record type:
Monograph
(Project Report)
Abstract
With increased life expectancy and delayed childbearing, it has become more common for people to care for both dependent children and ageing parents. Over the past three decades, the concept of the “Sandwich Generation” has evolved to encompass those in their 50s and 60s who support ageing parents while helping their own adult children, often with grandchild care. However, some sub-groups within the population may be more likely to be “sandwiched” than others.
This briefing presents findings from a study examining caregiving patterns from 1990 to 2020, revealing that lone parents are more likely to be “sandwiched” than couples with dependent children, especially when intensive caregiving is required. Notably, lone parents with young children are more likely to provide elder care and less likely to be employed full time. Policy changes linking welfare benefits to work requirements have added pressure on lone parents, who can face financial penalties if caregiving prevents them from working.
The findings show that the impact of caring on lone parents’ living standards remains a critical area for further exploration. Current benefit structures may need reform to support lone parents to manage both caregiving and employment more sustainably.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 31 October 2024
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 496001
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/496001
PURE UUID: 57c85f48-174a-4e72-8670-70cf2a15227f
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 29 Nov 2024 16:02
Last modified: 30 Nov 2024 02:55
Export record
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
