Sandwich generation in China: Exchange pattern with older parents and educational expenditure on young children

Abstract

The sandwich generation have dual care commitments to both ageing parents and children, so balancing the distribution of resources to older and younger generations is an important issue for them. Using data from the (China Family Panel Studies, 2018, N = 1,477), we investigated the associations between financial exchange patterns with older parents and educational expenditure on young children from the perspective of sandwich generation couples. The results indicate that individuals tended to spend less on their children's education when they had obligatory financial exchange patterns with their ageing parents compared to their counterparts with independent exchange patterns. The associations between financial exchange patterns and educational expenditure on young children differed between low- and high-income families. This study contributes to understanding the complexity of fulfilling the multigenerational support commitments of the sandwich generation and calls for more social support for such individuals.