Women of a middle generation and parent care

This article addresses women who are caring for both parents and children, the so called sandwich generation or women-in-the-middle. Gerontological st udies on this topic reflect controversies on the concept as well as on the size of the phenomenon. Our study attempts to demonstrate empirically to wh at extent middle-aged women respond to the care demands of both the generat ion ahead as well as the generation behind them. A population-based sample among women aged forty to fifty-four in the Netherlands (N = 933) is utiliz ed. The study indicates the prevalence of women-in-the-middle and presents analyses of their socio-demographic characteristics as well as of patterns of parent care. Further, the potential for a cross-cultural comparison betw een the Netherlands and other countries is discussed regarding parent care as a normative experience and the chances of middle-aged women getting "cau ght" between care demands from two generations.