Parental burnout during the COVID‐19 pandemic

• Published in: Family process 2022-12, Vol.61 (4), p.1715-1729
• Main Authors: Skjerdingstad, Nora, Johnson, Miriam S., Johnson, Sverre U., Hoffart, Asle, Ebrahimi, Omid V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Burnout; Coping strategies; COVID-19; Demography; family functioning; Humans; Insomnia; Mental health; Norway - epidemiology; Pandemics; parental burnout; Parental satisfaction; Parental stress; Parents; Parents & parenting; professional interventions; Psychosocial factors; Risk factors; Satisfaction; Stress; Unemployed people; Viruses; 专业干预; 家庭功能; 家长倦怠; 家长压力
• ISSN: 0014-7370; 1545-5300
• DOI: 10.1111/famp.12740

Increased and long‐term parental stress related to one's parental role can lead to parental burnout. In the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic, families experienced intensified pressure due to the government‐initiated contact restrictions applied to prevent the spread of the virus in the population. This study investigates the risk factors and predictors of parental burnout in a large sample of parents (N = 1488) during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Norway. Demographic and psychosocial factors were assessed at two timepoints: at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak in March 2020 (T1) and at 3 months follow‐up (T2). A hierarchical regression analysis was applied to identify the factors that contribute to parental burnout at T2. Parental burnout was additionally explored across subgroups. Findings revealed that younger age was associated with more parental burnout. Concurrent (T2) use of unhelpful coping strategies, insomnia symptoms, parental stress, and less parental satisfaction was significantly associated with the presence of greater parental burnout (T2). Additionally, parental stress and satisfaction measured in the earliest phase of the pandemic (T1) were associated with parental burnout 3 months later (T2) over and above concurrent parental stress/satisfaction. Unemployed parents and individuals with a mental health condition were identified as subgroups with substantially heightened levels of parental burnout. RESUMEN El estrés cada vez mayor y a largo plazo relacionado con el papel que desempeñan los padres puede conducir al agotamiento parental. En la primera fase de la pandemia de la COVID‐19, las familias sufrieron cada vez más presión debido a las restricciones en el contacto iniciadas por el gobierno que se aplicaron para prevenir la propagación del virus en la población. En este estudio se investigan los factores de riesgo y los factores pronósticos del agotamiento parental en una muestra grande de padres (N = 1488) durante la pandemia de la COVID‐19 en Noruega. Se evaluaron factores demográficos y psicosociales en dos intervalos de tiempo: al comienzo de la pandemia en marzo de 2020 (primera fase) y tres meses después (segunda fase). Se aplicó un análisis de regresión jerárquica para identificar los factores que contribuyen al agotamiento de los padres en la segunda fase. Además, se analizó el agotamiento de los padres entre subgrupos. Los resultados revelaron que las edades más jóvenes estuvieron asociadas con un mayor agotamiento parental.