Introduction: Parenting is widely regarded as a sacred role across cultures and is typically associated with positive emotions and experiences. However, it is also a journey marked by challenges. Understanding the resources and risk factors inherent in parenting is essential for guiding parents in this complex process. When risk factors outweigh available resources, the risk of parental burnout increases. Recent studies suggest that parental burnout is linked to demographic features, personality traits, partner relationships, and psychological well-being.
Purpose: This study aimed to identify variables associated with parental burnout and explore its potential predictors among parents of children aged 3 to 6. Specifically, it sought to examine how parental identity, basic psychological needs, marital harmony, and economic anxiety contribute to the development of burnout symptoms.
Method: The study employed a relational survey design and collected data from 419 parents (252 mothers, 167 fathers) via online questionnaires using snowball sampling. Instruments included a Demographic Information Form, the Parental Burnout Assessment, the Parental Identity Scale, the Marital Harmony Scale, and the Economic Strain Index.
Results: Analyses indicated that demographic variables such as gender, age, education level, employment status, and marriage duration were not significantly associated with burnout. However, the identification dimension of parental identity, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and marital harmony were negatively associated with parental burnout. Conversely, the rumination dimension of parental identity, frustration of psychological needs, and economic anxiety were positively associated with burnout. Regression results showed that identification and marital harmony negatively predicted burnout, whereas needs frustration and financial anxiety positively predicted it. Finally, satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs were found to mediate the relationship between identification and burnout.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological and contextual factors influencing parental burnout and offer valuable insight for future research and intervention development.