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Gepubliceerd in:

29-11-2024 | Original Paper

A Step Forward in Understanding Gender Differences in Parental Burnout: Parental Involvement and Emotion Regulation

Auteurs: Ligia de Santis, Ana Paula P. Noronha, Moïra Mikolajczak, Isabelle Roskam

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 1/2025

Abstract

Evidence of gender differences in parental burnout has been replicated in several studies and in several cultures, showing a higher level of parental burnout in mothers but a greater sensitivity of fathers to this serious condition. However, the reasons for these differences have never been tested empirically. In this study, we tested whether mothers’ higher level of burnout is related to their greater investment in parenting activities. We also tested the greater sensitivity of fathers to a stress factor that is highly associated with parental burnout, emotion regulation. 1,322 Brazilian parents (41.3% fathers) participated in the study during the pandemic, which was regarded as a context in which parental stress naturally increased. The results confirmed mothers’ higher mean level of parental burnout. Contrary to our expectations, the results also revealed that mothers still experienced higher parental burnout than fathers even when we strictly controlled for the level of involvement in parenting. They also showed that compared to fathers, mothers were more susceptible to emotion dysregulation and to a stressful situation affecting parenting (i.e. the pandemic). Avenues for future studies are twofold. First, they should investigate alternative explanations for gender differences in parental burnout. Second, to the extent that gender moderates the impact of risk factors on parental burnout, future studies should identify specific risk factors for mothers on the one hand and for fathers on the other.

vorige artikel Experiences and outcomes of young carers living in low-and middle-income countries: a scoping review and narrative synthesis

volgende artikel Divergent Perceptions of ADHD among Diagnosed Adolescents and Their Parents: An Exploratory Study

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Titel: A Step Forward in Understanding Gender Differences in Parental Burnout: Parental Involvement and Emotion Regulation
Auteurs: Ligia de Santis
Ana Paula P. Noronha
Moïra Mikolajczak
Isabelle Roskam
Publicatiedatum: 29-11-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 1/2025
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02957-1

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A Step Forward in Understanding Gender Differences in Parental Burnout: Parental Involvement and Emotion Regulation

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Andere artikelen Uitgave 1/2025

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