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.
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A large number of so-called '4-2-1' or '4-2-2' families emerged, in which a couple must raise one or two children of their own and also support four aging parents.
“A large number of so-called ‘4-2-1’ (12) or ‘4-2-2’ (13) families emerged, in which a couple must not only raise one or two children of their own, but also support four aging parents.”
From Caring alone: older adult care burdens, practices, and structural imbalances among China's one-child generation (2025) · cites this paper as [13]
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- Authors
- Wu, J., Tian, B., Gao, Y., & Wang, L.
- Affiliations
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Huazhong Agricultural University (CN)
- PhD, post-doctoral, Hunan University, Changsha, P.R. China
- Corresponding author
- Wu, Jingyi
- Venue
- Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2023-08-30
- Volume
- 105
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 604-620
- ISSN
- 1044-3894 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-1350
- OpenAlex
- W4386294424
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 6.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Families in Society The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Keywords
- sandwich generation, family caregivers, intergenerational support, social care, caregiver well-being, population aging, fertility policy, China
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