Sandwiched women: Health behavior, health, and life satisfaction

2022. No. 289.

Kartseva M., Peresetsky A.

In this paper, we use unique nationally representative data from the 25th wave of Russia Longitudinal Monitoring survey, (RLMS-HSE) for 2016. Based on the survey data, we investigate the impact of sandwich generation caregiving on the health behavior of Russian women—their health behavior, self-assessed health and life satisfaction. We found that sandwich generation caregiving reduces the likelihood of medical examinations, and regular meals, the effect is especially pronounced for working women. A small reduction in alcohol consumption is observed. The likelihood of smoking is reduced (especially for women under 50). The likelihood of being overweight increases, the proportion of chronic diseases decreases, and self-assessed health improves (these effects are especially pronounced for women who are non-pensioners). The proportion of depression decreases. These effects may be the result of an inattentive attitude to one's health and a consciousness of the social significance of fulfilling one's duty. The latter also affects the decreasing number of sandwich generation givers (SGC) dissatisfied with life in general.

Keywords: здоровье, Россия, Russia, health, удовлетворенность жизнью, health behavior, здоровьесберегающее поведение, life satisfaction, informal care, sandwich generation, sandwich caregiving, female caregivers, сэндвич-поколение, неформальный уход, уход за двумя поколениями