The research into how many Brits have become part of what was termed the 'Sandwich Generation' found on average, parents have been spending £10,252 per year on their children - with £6,411 of this spent on adult children aged 22 or above.
Those supporting older family members spend £1,367. Many parents have been looking after their children as well as their own mums or dads and in some cases grandchildren, the research by LV=, found.
This help has created a major challenge for these families' finances, with 45% saying the financial pressure was challenging, while one in four had to take out a loan to subsidise family members.

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Some 8% have had to increase their working hours or take on a second job (5%).
Food and household bills (54%) and paying off debts (54%) were the main areas of financial support.
Home renovations (23%), medical care (32%) and education fees (11%) were next.
Some 44% of the 'Sandwich Generation' said they had to balance working full-time with spending an additional 19 hours each week caring for a parent or older relative and twice as many hours (39 hours per week) looking after a younger relative.
Meanwhile, with the majority of people now living well into their 80s, approximately three million people in the UK are now supporting an older relative.
Richard Rowney, LV= Life and Pensions managing director, said: "The research shows how the changing nature of modern families is placing real financial pressure on those who are providing support to others. This help often lasts for many years longer than people may have originally thought.
"Nobody wants to think about the possibility of getting ill or being made redundant however the reality is that some of us will be off work for a period of time at some point in our career.
"Having a contingency plan, such as income protection in place offers you peace of mind that if you fell ill or were made redundant you would receive a regular income which would enable you to carry on supporting yourself and your loved ones."

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