Caregivers Face Mental, Physical Health Risks
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2025 -- More and more adults are stuck in the middle of their families, caring not only for their children but also for aging parents and other older family members.
The mental and physical health of these “sandwich carers” is more likely to deteriorate over time, a new study published in the journal Public Health says.
“These individuals, who balance the demands of caring for both their children and aging parents, often experience a decline in their well-being,” lead researcher Dr. Baowen Xue, a lecturer in social epidemiology with the University College London, said in a news release from the school.
“It's crucial that we recognize and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience,” Xue added.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from about 2,000 sandwich carers, comparing them with 2,000 other people who only care for a child younger than 16.
All participants were provided a pair of questionnaires aimed at assessing their mental and physical health.
Results show that parents’ psychological distress increased significantly when they also had to care for an older relative, and even more if they spent over 20 hours a week providing care.
Sandwich carers also suffered a faster decline in their physical health if they spent more than 20 hours a week in caregiving, researchers found.
These folks must manage not only the constant demands of their dual roles as parent and offspring, but also the emotional toll of watching their older loved ones growing more infirm, researchers said.
“Our findings suggest a need for targeted mental health interventions and regular health monitoring for sandwich carers, particularly those providing intensive care,” the research team concluded in their paper.
“By identifying these risks early and providing broader support and respite care, policies can be designed to reduce stress among sandwich carers and enhance overall population health."
Future research should focus on how sandwich carers might be helped by social support networks, access to respite care, and workplace flexibility, researchers concluded.
Sources
- University College London, news release, Jan. 6, 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted January 2025
Read this next
Recalled: More Than 67,000 Cases of Deodorant Sold at Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Amazon
TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — More than 67,000 cases of Power Stick deodorant have been recalled due to an undisclosed manufacturing issue. The recalled deodorants, made by A.P...
Dogs Can Sniff Out Parkinson's Disease, Study Shows
TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — Dogs’ noses are sensitive enough to track down fleeing convicts, locate human remains in hidden burial sites and detect illicit drug...
For Some, Gluten Intolerance Is Psychological, Study Says
TUESDAY, July 22, 2025 — Gluten intolerance might be all in the minds of some people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), results from a small-scale experiment...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.