Factors associated with parental burnout: The role of parents' gender and children's age and gender

Abstract

Parental burnout syndrome is a growing phenomenon in western countries. Although there is ample evidence of its harmful consequences, more research is needed on the sociodemographic factors associated with it. Accordingly, the present study analyses the explanatory potential of being a mother or father, having a son or daughter, and having a child in primary or compulsory secondary education on each of the core symptoms of parental burnout: exhaustion, weariness with parenting, emotional distancing, and contrast with previous parental self. The participant sample consisted of 396 fathers and mothers (75% mothers, 25% fathers), selected by convenience sampling. In terms of educational stage, the distribution reported by mothers was very homogeneous in primary and secondary education, while 72% of fathers reported having children in compulsory secondary education. The gender distribution of children was uniform. The Spanish adaptation of the Parental Burnout Inventory was used as a measurement tool. QR codes were distributed with access to the questionnaires in digital format. Significantly higher levels of exhaustion, weariness and contrast with the previous parental self were found to be associated with being a mother, having a male child and having a child in primary school. Likewise, being a mother and having a child in primary education are significant predictors of this symptomatology. These findings suggest the advisability of designing educational policies that promote co-parenting and skills for managing parental stress.