A survey conducted by CBNC Indonesia in 2021 showed that 48.7% of Indonesia’s productive age population (25–45 years) was the sandwich generation. This generation is responsible for supporting themselves, their parents, and their children simultaneously. For those who are not ready and strong financially and mentally, this pressure is vulnerable to reducing psychological well-being.
Lathifah Hanum, M.Psi., lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology University of Indonesia, said that the role of the sandwich generation is not easy because of the differences between the two generations. “Caring for children and teenagers is certainly different from caring for the elderly. Children and teenagers need guidance from their parents to mold themselves, while the elderly need assistance in daily activities. This situation can be more complicated if the elderly have particular health concerns, so the sandwich generation needs to give extra care,” said Lathifah.
The sandwich generation faces many challenges, including being vulnerable to stress and burnout. The residency also has a different impact. Those who live with two different generations have greater responsibilities, such as preparing nutritious food for them, being a good listener, and fulfilling personal daily routines or responsibilities. However, if the sandwich generation lives apart from their parents, they should send more money to compensate for their absence.
According to Lathifah, being a sandwich generation means preparing economically and mentally. They must be economically stable and have sufficient financial resources to ensure the family’s needs are met. They must also be mentally tough to carry out their roles, especially adjusting expectations in different situations.
Another important thing is the quality of good relationships with parents and children. The sandwich generation must build positive relationships with both generations. They must be able to communicate well so that there is no misunderstanding and problems can be solved.
Intergenerational relationships actually have many benefits. In several studies, it is stated that each generation contributes to household affairs. The sandwich generation could be greatly helped by the presence of parents at home because they can help take care of the household and children while they work. Several East Asian studies show that the sandwich generation prefers to leave their children with their parents to get an adequate education, especially regarding family values and culture.
Meanwhile, research in Europe and Southeast Asia shows that the sandwich generation gets support financially from their parents. In return, the sandwich generation becomes a good companion for their parents. This indicates that the sandwich generation will not encounter threatening circumstances as long as they have good preparation and self-regulation skills. Eventually, the relationship between family will be established and important values shared.
