Hi everyone,

You are invited to attend the next seminar from the Psychology Seminar Series on Wednesday 4 February 2026, 11:00-12:00pm in BR 3.81.

Attendance will be collated at the end of the seminar and RISE points will be allocated accordingly. 

To join the session online, click here: MS Teams

This seminar will feature two short talks, followed by discussion and Q&A. Please see below for details: 

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Dr Susanne Langer, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology

Dr Susanne Martikke, Independent Researcher

Hiding in plain sight: findings from a participatory qualitative study on sandwich carers

Sandwich carers have multiple caring responsibilities across different generations. They play a pivotal role as family carers, yet little is known about them. This participatory qualitative project extended the limited knowledge about this under researched group in Greater Manchester. Working collaboratively with community partners and sandwich carers, we shed a light on sandwich carers’ everyday challenges and co-developed guidance to better support them. 

Using a participatory qualitative design, the study combined community conversations with in depth individual interviews. The findings highlighted the limited recognition afforded to sandwich carers and the often-invisible nature of their work. It also revealed the diversity of sandwich caring, which was evidenced by carers’ circumstances, the needs of those they support, and the range of assistance required. Sandwich carers described a qualitative difference and distinctive challenges that differed from typical dyadic caring relationships. The complexity of navigating multiple support systems was central to sandwich caring. Difficulties arose directly from the fact that sandwich carers care for family members with contrasting needs. 

The study underscored the importance of tailored support and improved visibility for sandwich carers, as well as the value of community based collaboration in shaping future research and policy responses. We will conclude by sharing recommendations that recognise the pivotal role of sandwich carers and have the potential to create a positive ripple effect for those they care for, alleviate pressure on services, and strengthen local families and communities. 

Amy Sparrow, PhD Candidate, School of Psychology

Growing up with vertigo, tinnitus, and mild-to-moderate hearing loss: findings from a systematic narrative review

This review is part of a PhD project investigating what it is like to grow up with Ménière’s Disease. Ménière’s Disease is a rare balance disorder that causes vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. There is currently little research on what it is like to have the disorder at a young age, or how it can influence psychological wellbeing.

A systematic review was therefore carried out on each individual symptom, to build an understanding of what it is like to grow up with them; a narrative review was chosen to allow different types of research to be discussed together. Findings will be used to support two further studies in the project, which will investigate the lived experiences of adults who grew up with Ménière’s Disease.

This presentation will explore the context of the PhD, discuss the key findings from the review, and detail the next steps of the project.

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Any questions, please contact Danielle Labhardt or Matt Brooks on psychologyseminars@mmu.ac.uk.

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