The Triple Challenge of Intergenerational Sandwiching and Labor-Force Participation: Consequences for the Psychological Well-Being of Older Europeans

Individuals sandwiched between generations while being in paid work, face a triple challenge and may experience significant negative psychological effects associated with these three competing time demands. This study adds to the literature by focusing on the “mature” sandwich generation in Europe and examining the consequences of transitioning into social sandwiching—simultaneously providing support to older parents and adult children – on individuals’ psychological well-being. Attention is given to gender differences in the context of paid work, retirement, and non-employment. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe covering 2004–2022, we estimate symmetric fixed-effects linear regression models, separately by gender and employment status, to assess within-person changes in psychological well-being following a transition into social sandwiching. Psychological well-being is measured by two complementary indicators: the number of reported depressive symptoms (Euro-D) and the quality of life (CASP12). Transitioning into social sandwiching was associated with an increased number of depressive symptoms and reduced levels of subjective well-being among women in paid work. No significant effects were observed among women outside the labor force. No negative effects were found among employed men; however, retired men experienced a decline in subjective well-being. Findings underscore the psychological costs of combining paid work with multigenerational caregiving, particularly for women. The results highlight the need for flexible labor policies that mitigate work–family strain by specifically addressing the needs of an aging workforce facing an increasing likelihood of social sandwiching.