Parental identity and psychological need satisfaction as resources against parental burnout

Schrooyen, C., Flamant, N., Soenens, B., & Beyers, W. (2024). Parental identity and psychological need satisfaction as resources against parental burnout. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33(10), 3229–3245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-024-02892-1

Parental burnout is characterized by chronic parenting stress and inadequate resources to manage it effectively. Grounded in identity theory and self-determination theory, this study examined 2 potential resources to protect against parental burnout: parental identity and psychological need satisfaction. 450 civilian parents (n = 287 mothers, n = 163 fathers) self-reported their parental burnout, as well as 3 aspects of their parental identity: commitment (i.e., stable dedication to parenting role); exploration (i.e., active reflection on parenting role); and ruminative identity exploration (i.e., pervasive doubts about parental role). They also reported the extent to which their psychological needs were met in 3 domains: autonomy (i.e. sense of control over one’s choices); relatedness (i.e., connection with others), and competence. Generally, parents experienced lower levels of burnout when their psychological needs were met, particularly their needs for autonomy and relatedness.

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