Psychological Distress and Resilience as Predictors of Grit in the Sandwich Generation
Abstract
The Sandwich Generation refers to individuals who simultaneously bear dual responsibilities, namely caring for elderly parents while raising children, which potentially exposes them to varying levels of psychological distress. This study aimed to examine the roles of psychological distress and resilience in predicting grit among the Sandwich Generation in Indonesia. Employed a quantitative approach with a linear regression design. The participants consisted of 400 individuals from the Sandwich Generation, selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Short Grit Scale (Grit-S). The results supported the central hypothesis and the first minor hypothesis, but did not support the second minor hypothesis. Psychological distress and resilience jointly had a significant effect on grit among the Sandwich Generation in Indonesia (F = 4.556; p = 0.011). Partially, psychological distress significantly predicted grit (β = -0.100; t = -2.589; p = 0.010), while resilience did not show a significant effect on grit (β = 0.030; t = 1.614; p = 0.107). These findings highlight the importance of designing interventions that focus on adaptive management of psychological distress to sustain long-term perseverance among the Sandwich Generation. In contrast, resilience remains crucial as a buffer for emotional stability, even though it does not directly enhance grit.
Downloads
References
Abidin, M. H. (2024, 11 Oktober). Balada generasi sandwich di Indonesia. Media Indonesia. https://mediaindonesia.com/opini/708113/balada-generasi-sandwich-di-indonesia
Adi, I. R. (2018). Kesejahteraan sosial: pekerjaan sosial, pembangunan sosial, dan kajian pembangunan (Edisi kedua). Rajawali Press.
Ang, C.-S. (2024). Filial piety, caregiving self-efficacy, and caregiver burden in Sandwich Generation caregivers: What are the relationships? Home Health Care Management & Practice, 0(0) https://doi.org/10.1177/10848223241279298
Aji, W. T., & Harani, F. (2023). Global phenomenon: The millennial generation is trapped by Sandwich Generation in Indonesia. International Journal of Educational Policy and Social Sciences, 1(4), Article 864. https://doi.org/10.59890/ijeps.v1i4.864
Asy’syifa, F., & Surjaningrum, E. R. (2023). Pengaruh caregiver burden terhadap psychological well-being dimoderatori oleh Resilience pada ibu generasi sandwich. Jurnal Syntax Fusion, 3(10), 1105–1121.
Baylon, N. K., Abrea, L., Carpio, M. A., Mesa, N. E., Montesa, J. A., Pusta, C. E., & Sugatan, C. (2024). Grit and resilience as predictors of mental health outcomes of senior high school students. North American Journal of Psychology, 26(2), 435–448.
Biggs, A. T., Seech, T. R., Johnston, S. L., & Russell, D. W. (2024). Psychological endurance: How grit, resilience, and related factors contribute to sustained effort despite adversity. The Journal of general psychology, 151(3), 271-313. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.2023.2253955
Brandstätter, V., & Bernecker, K. (2022). Persistence and disengagement in personal goal pursuit. Annual Review of Psychology, 73(1), 271–299. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-020821-110710
Burke, R. J. (2017). The Sandwich Generation: Coping with multiple roles. In R. J. Burke & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of organizational well-being (pp. 573–589). SAGE Publications.
Calo, M., Judd, B., & Peiris, C. L. (2025). Can we be too gritty? Medical Education, 59(5), 345–456. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.15594
Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor‐Davidson resilience scale (CD‐RISC). Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 76–82.
Cheng, K. J. G., & Santos-Lozada, A. R. (2024, June). Mental and physical health among ‘sandwich’ generation working-age adults in the United States: Not all sandwiches are made equal. SSM-Population Health, 26, 101650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101650
Chirkina, T. (2023). Barriers to achieving goals: Features of the relationship between grit and neuroticism scales. Psikhologicheskii Zhurnal, 44(5), 76. https://doi.org/10.31857/s020595920027726-4
Clarke, A. (2020). The impact of sustained psychological distress and elevated anxiety symptoms on long-term mental and physical wellbeing of COVID-19 healthcare providers. Psychosociological Issues in Human Resource Management, 8(2), 37–46.
Dewi, D. S. E., & Hamzah, H. B. (2019, October). The relationship between spirituality, quality of life, and resilience. In 6th International Conference on Community Development (ICCD 2019) (pp. 145–147). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/iccd-19.2019.39
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.
Fatmasari, D., & Ambarwati, K. D. (2024). Konsep diri dengan Resilience pada Sandwich Generation. Jurnal Ilmiah Psyche, 18(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.33557/jpsyche.v18i1.3195
Fenstermacher, E., Owsiany, M., & Edelstein, B. (2022). Informal caregiving burnout among the Sandwich Generation. Innovation in Aging, 6(Suppl 1), 872. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.3115
Ferris, T. L. J. (2021). Measurement of resilience and the time value of resilience. IEEE Systems Journal, 15(2), 1578–1585. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSYST.2020.3000361
Fresco, D. M. (2022). Neuroscience: Emotional regulation, mindfulness, and relieving distress. Integrative and Complementary Therapies. https://doi.org/10.1089/ict.2022.29018.dfr
Georgoulas-Sherry, V., & Kelly, D. R. (2019). Resilience, grit, and hardiness: Determining the relationships amongst these constructs through structural equation modeling techniques. Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 3(2), 165–178. http://mail.journalppw.com/index.php/JPPW/article/view/147
Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1985.4277352
Ju, C., Lohmar, S., Fenstermacher, E., Owsiany, M., & Edelstein, B. (2024). Personality traits as predictors of burnout in Sandwich Generation caregivers. Innovation in Aging, 8(Suppl 1), 770. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae098.2502
Katadata Indonesia. (2023, 5 September). Berdasarkan Data Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) pada 2020, 71 juta penduduk di Indonesia merupakan generasi sandwich. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1oRtrGS9hV/
Kessler, R. C., et al., (2002). Prevalence, burden, and treatment of mental disorders in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. JAMA, 289(23), 3095–3105.
Kwon, H. W. (2021). Are gritty people happier than others? Evidence from the United States and South Korea. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(7), 2937–2959. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00343-4
Lam, K. K. L. (2024). A serial mediation model testing family interaction, anxiety, and zest for life as predictors of perseverance of effort. IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences, 10(1), 109–123. https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2435-5240.2024.10
Marlow, M., Skeen, S., Hunt, X., Sundin, P., Weiss, R. E., Mofokeng, S., … Tomlinson, M. (2022). Depression, anxiety, and psychological distress among caregivers of young children in rural Lesotho: Associations with food insecurity, household death and parenting stress. SSM - Mental Health, 2, 100167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100167
Monica, I., Yomima Viena, & Sarita Candra Merida. (2023). Resilience in the Sandwich Generation. Jurnal Spirits, 14(1), 34–46. https://jurnal.ustjogja.ac.id/index.php/spirit/index
Moss-Pech, S. A., Southward, M. W., & Cheavens, J. S. (2021). Hope attenuates the negative impact of general psychological distress on goal progress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(6), 1412–1427. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23087
Muhammad, A. (2022). Optimalisasi financial well being generasi sandwich di Indonesia. El-Usrah, 5(1), 127–135. https://doi.org/10.22373/ujhk.v5i1.17119
Musso, M. W., Tatum, D., Hamer, D., Hammarlund, R., Son, L., & McMahon, P. (2019). The relationship between grit and resilience in emergency medical service personnel. The Ochsner Journal, 19(3), 199–203. https://doi.org/10.31486/TOJ.18.0144
Mustaza, M. S. A., & Kutty, F. M. (2022). The relationship between grit personality and resilience. Creative Education, 13(10), 3255–3269. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2022.1310208
Musumari, P. M., Tangmunkongvorakul, A., Srithanaviboonchai, K., Techasrivichien, T., Suguimoto, S. P., Ono-Kihara, M., & Kihara, M. (2018). Grit is associated with lower level of depression and anxiety among university students in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 13(12), Article e0209121. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209121
Moss-Pech, S. A., Southward, M. W., & Cheavens, J. S. (2021). Hope attenuates the negative impact of general psychological distress on goal progress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(6), 1412–1427. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23087
Owsiany, M. T., Fenstermacher, E. A., & Edelstein, B. A. (2023). Burnout and depression among Sandwich Generation caregivers: A brief report. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 97(4), 425–434. https://doi.org/10.1177/00914150231183137
Owsiany, J. S., et al., (2023). Psychological distress and its impact on family caregivers of older adults: A systematic review. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 35(1), 123–140.
Paczkowski, S. (2020). Resiliência, a habilidade de superar adversidades e pressões no ambiente de trabalho (pp. 7–16). http://periodicos.unespar.edu.br/index.php/raei/article/download/3264/2143
Pangngay, J. J. (2023). The relationship between resilience, wellbeing, and psychological distress as mediated by mindfulness and coping. Philippine Social Science Journal, 6(3), 36–45. https://doi.org/10.52006/main.v6i3.754
Pashazade, H., Abolfathi Momtaz, Y., Abdi, K., & Maarefvand, M. (2023). Sandwich Generation caregivers’ problems: a narrative review. Educational Gerontology, 50(5), 353–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2023.2293568
Putri, M., Maulida, A., & Husna, F. (2022). Urgensi literasi keuangan bagi generasi sandwich di Aceh. At-Tasyri': Jurnal Ilmiah Prodi Muamalah, 14(1), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.47498/tasyri.v14i1.854
Rahayu, I. P., & Rifayani, H. (2024). Penerimaan diri pada generasi sandwich. Journal of Creative Student Research, 2(2), 69–82. https://doi.org/10.55606/jcsr-politama.v2i3.3966
Ramadina, F. R., & Azis, A. (2024). Towards sustainable success: The role of growth mindset in building grit in multi-level business marketing members. Psikoborneo: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi, 12(4), 568–574.
Rao, G. P., Koneru, A., Nebhineni, N., & Mishra, K. K. (2024). Developing resilience and harnessing emotional intelligence. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 66(Suppl 2), S255–S261. https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_601_23
Reysen, R., Reysen, M. B., Perry, P., & Knight, R. D. (2019). Not so soft skills: The importance of grit to college student success. Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 26(2). https://doi.org/10.24926/JCOTR.V26I2.2397
Salsabila, P., & Annisah, A. (2024). Pemenuhan keberfungsian sosial pada perempuan generasi sandwich. JSSH (Jurnal Sains Sosial dan Humaniora), 7(2), 109. https://doi.org/10.30595/jssh.v7i2.15137
Salsabila, Z., Gunawan, S., Verlantyno, R., Nugraha, T. K., & Wijaya, E. (2024). The role of grit on subjective well-being in adolescents. Edunity, 3(12), 1249–1254. https://doi.org/10.57096/edunity.v3i12.353
Schimschal, S. E., Visentin, D., Kornhaber, R., & Cleary, M. (2020). Grit: A concept analysis. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42(5), 495–505. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2020.1814913
Shi, J., Zhang, D., & Liu, X. (2024). Intergenerational caregiving patterns and cognitive health among the Sandwich Generation within four-generation families. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 99(3), 307–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/00914150241235088
Sinaga, T. M. (2025, Januari 7). Kesehatan mental dan fisik generasi sandwich menurun. Kompas. https://www.kompas.id/artikel/kesehatan-mental-dan-fisik-generasi-sandwich-menurun
Song, S., Yang, X., Yang, H., Zhou, P., Ma, H., Teng, C., Chen, H., Ou, H., Li, J., Mathews, C. A., Nutley, S. K., Liu, N., Zhang, X. Y., & Zhang, N. (2021). Psychological resilience as a protective factor for depression and anxiety among the public during the outbreak of COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 618509. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.618509
Stepanovic, S. (2024). Resilience to physical and emotional stress. Human Research in Rehabilitation, 14(1), 143. https://doi.org/10.21554/hrr.042414
Sudarji, S., Panggabean, H., & Marta, R. F. (2022). Challenges of the Sandwich Generation: Stress and coping strategy of the multigenerational care. Indigenous: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi, 7(3), 263–275. https://doi.org/10.23917/indigenous.v7i3.19433
Syufa’at, Zaidi, S. M. S., & Mutholaah. (2023). Sandwich Generation in contemporary Indonesia: Determining responsibility in caring for elderly under Islamic law and positive law. Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam, 17(2), 167–181. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v17i2.9371
Timmers, M., & Lengeler, V. (2022). How do they manage? Coping strategies of the working Sandwich Generation in Flanders. In Working Women in the Sandwich Generation: Theories, Tools and Recommendations for Supporting Women's Working Lives (pp. 13–30). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-501-120221002
Tiwari, S., & Verma, K. (2023). A critical study of Angela Duckworth’s Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 14(3), 152–154. https://doi.org/10.52711/2321-5828.2023.000316
Ubaidah, A., Meilani, S. B., & Azahra, A. P. (2024). Resilience levels in the Sandwich Generation. Journal of Knowledge and Collaboration, 1(4), 132–145. https://doi.org/10.59613/jkz1g907
Wu, J., Tian, B., Gao, Y., & Wang, L. (2024). Extinguishing the fire at both ends: The dual family-caregiving stress of the Sandwich Generation of China’s “4-2-2” families. Families in Society, 105(4), 604–620. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894231183406
Woda, R., & Pontoan, M. D. A. (2024). Fenomena kondisi psikologis perempuan single parent dalam generasi sandwich. Ranah Research, 6(4), 1261–1270. https://doi.org/10.38035/rrj.v6i4.915
Copyright (c) 2026 Khesya Margarita Kase Lie, Arthur Huwae
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right to first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution that allows the sharing of articles published with the acknowledgement of authorship and the initial publication in this magazine.
2) The authors are authorized to make additional contracts separately for distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (for example, publication in an institutional repository or as a chapter of the book), as long as there is recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are authorized and encouraged to publish and distribute their work online (for example, in institutional repositories or on their personal pages) at any time before or during the editorial process, as it increases the impact and reference of the published work.
