Exploratory study on the well-being of the Filipino working sandwich generation women

• Main Author: Tirones, Adorinda P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Sandwich generation; Caregivers; Women—Employment > Philippines; Clinical Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_psych/83; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_psych/article/1084/viewcontent/2024_Tirones_Exploratory_Study_on_the_Well_being_of_the_Filipino_Working_Sandw.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The sandwich generation (SG) usually consists of adult parents who simultaneously provide care and support to their children and older parents, which is common and often taken for granted in Filipino families. The SG women are the family's primary care providers. Aside from taking care of their families, most of them work to supplement the family income. Despite their complex role in intergenerational caregiving, the plight of the Filipino middle-class sandwiched caregivers has not been given much attention in psychological research. This research explored the ways Filipino working SG women show their care and support to their care recipients and how supporting the latter impacts the SGs' well-being. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews via pakikipagkwentuhan with 11 SG women working as life insurance advisors in Metro Manila. Analysis of the interview transcripts yielded seven forms of SG support to their care recipients: (1) Financial and material support, (2) Physical and health care, (3) Home management, (4) Communication and psychosocial support, (5) Creating memories, (6) Developmental support, and (7) Instilling values and discipline. The first five are overlapping ways demonstrating childcare and elderly care, while the last two are exclusively focused on childcare. The interview transcripts were also analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. There were four well-being themes identified: (1) It is challenging, (2) I am thankful, (3) God is good, and (4) I am content. Although sandwiched caregiving is challenging, especially emotionally, the SGs are thankful for the support they get from their family, friends, and their job as life insurance advisors. Their strong faith in God helps them cope with all the challenges. Overall, the SGs look at their lives favorably. They feel balanced and contented as working sandwich-generation women nestled within the caring culture of Filipinos. Consistent with positive psychology literature, the key protective factors such as gratitude, social support, spirituality, and contentment support the SGs’ well-being