Working Sandwich Generation Women Utilize Strategies within and between Roles to Achieve Role Balance.
Increasingly, women simultaneously balance the roles of mother, parental carer and worker. However, individual role balance strategies among these working 'sandwich' generation women have not been thoroughly explored. Eighteen women combining these three roles were interviewed about their individual role balance strategies. Findings were identified through the framework analysis technique, underpinned by the Model of Juggling Occupations. Achieving and maintaining role balance was explained as a complex process accomplished through a range of strategies. Findings revealed the women used six within-role balance strategies: living with integrity, being the best you can, doing what you love, loving what you do, remembering why and searching for signs of success. The women also described six between-role balance strategies: maintaining health and wellbeing, repressing perfectionism, managing time and energy, releasing responsibility, nurturing social connection and reciprocating. These findings provide a basis for health care providers to understand and potentially support working 'sandwich' generation women.
Occupational Therapy Program, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Kiah L
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2850-7674
KL
Evans
Occupational Therapy Program, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Jeannine
J
Millsteed
Occupational Therapy Program, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Janet E
JE
Richmond
School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Marita
M
Falkmer
School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Torbjorn
T
Falkmer
Occupational Therapy Program, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Sonya J
SJ
Girdler
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D009790:Occupations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D024382:Professional Role; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D017748:Time Management / Q000523:psychology; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload