კონფერენცია

∘ Nino Gomelauri ∘
THE SPREAD OF THE SANDWICH SYNDROME IN GEORGIA AND ITS IMPACT

Summary

The article deals with the empirical assessment of the spread of the “Sandwich Syndrome” in Georgia and its socio-demographic characteristics by using the data obtained from the sociological surveys conducted on the issues of family problems on the part of the Institute of demography and sociology Ilia State University during 2013-2019. Furthermore, it analyzes the impact of the “Sandwich Syndrome” on population’s employment, income and health. The phenomenon, when humans experience the pressure of obligations and responsibilities from both sides, is designated the “Sandwich Syndrome”. Women experience the mentioned phenomenon twice more often than men – the spread of the “Sandwich Syndrome” is nearly two times higher among the women than among the men. The “symptom of the Sandwich Generation” has a sharply defined gender characteristic in Georgia. The survey could not identify the important changes in the spread of the “Sandwich Syndrome” according to the level of an individual’s education. The share of the population who experience the “Sandwich Syndrome” is higher among the people living in villages than among those residing in cities.

The data of the survey conducted by the Institute of demography and sociology Ilia State University confirm that in spite of the whole array of difficulties, among them some of economic characters; the intergenerational connection is expressed by bilateral support in Georgia. The connection is not limited only by the relationship between parents and children (naturally, the economic connections, the scales and intensity of support is higher between the parents and children), the connection between grandparents and grandchildren is quite firm.

The “Sandwich Syndrome” exerts certain influence on the employment, material well-being and health of the Georgian population. As of today, the people who face the “Sandwich Syndrome” and are in need of support, are beyond the attention of social policy. The condition of these individuals can be improved by employing various measures, the aim of which is to combine parenthood and employment, easing the burden of care taking of one’s elderly relatives (expansion of the types and methods of formal care-taking services free of charge or at an accessible price, material support of caretakers, etc.).

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics International Scientific C O N F E R E N C E S "ECONOMY – XXI CENTURY"

E ISSN 2587 - 4691	∘ Nino Gomelauri ∘ THE SPREAD OF THE SANDWICH SYNDROME IN GEORGIA AND ITS IMPACT Summary The article deals with the empirical assessment of the spread of the “Sandwich Syndrome” in Georgia and its socio-demographic characteristics by using the data obtained from the sociological surveys conducted on the issues of family problems on the part of the Institute of demography and sociology Ilia State University during 2013-2019. Furthermore, it analyzes the impact of the “Sandwich Syndrome” on population’s employment, income and health. The phenomenon, when humans experience the pressure of obligations and responsibilities from both sides, is designated the “Sandwich Syndrome”. Women experience the mentioned phenomenon twice more often than men – the spread of the “Sandwich Syndrome” is nearly two times higher among the women than among the men. The “symptom of the Sandwich Generation” has a sharply defined gender characteristic in Georgia. The survey could not identify the important changes in the spread of the “Sandwich Syndrome” according to the level of an individual’s education. The share of the population who experience the “Sandwich Syndrome” is higher among the people living in villages than among those residing in cities. The data of the survey conducted by the Institute of demography and sociology Ilia State University confirm that in spite of the whole array of difficulties, among them some of economic characters; the intergenerational connection is expressed by bilateral support in Georgia. The connection is not limited only by the relationship between parents and children (naturally, the economic connections, the scales and intensity of support is higher between the parents and children), the connection between grandparents and grandchildren is quite firm. The “Sandwich Syndrome” exerts certain influence on the employment, material well-being and health of the Georgian population. As of today, the people who face the “Sandwich Syndrome” and are in need of support, are beyond the attention of social policy. The condition of these individuals can be improved by employing various measures, the aim of which is to combine parenthood and employment, easing the burden of care taking of one’s elderly relatives (expansion of the types and methods of formal care-taking services free of charge or at an accessible price, material support of caretakers, etc.).