SELF-ESTEEM OF THE SANDWICH GENERATION IN THE GREATER JAKARTA AREA (JABODETABEK)

Abstract

The sandwich generation refers to middle-aged individuals who bear dual responsibilities toward parents and children. In its current meaning, this term also includes those responsible for extended families such as siblings or relatives living together. Family expectations toward the sandwich generation may affect their self-esteem. This study aims to examine the self-esteem of the sandwich generation in Jabodetabek. A total of 190 respondents met the criteria for the sandwich generation. The sampling technique used was nonprobability convenience sampling, and self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory (1965). The results showed that 23% of respondents were in the “Very High” category, 21% in the “Low” category, and 19.33% in the “Very Low” category, indicating that most respondents tended to have high self-esteem. Further analysis revealed that factors such as gender, work experience, family responsibilities, and monthly income were associated with the distribution of self-esteem. Mann-Whitney U Test results showed no significant difference in self-esteem based on gender, domicile, or work experience. However, a significant difference was found by monthly income (p = 0.001), where respondents earning ≥5 million had higher self-esteem compared to those earning <5 million. These findings highlight that socio-economic factors, particularly income, play a crucial role in shaping the self-esteem of the sandwich generation. Future research is recommended to explore other factors such as social support and work-life balance that may further influence self-esteem.