SPECIFIC FEATURES OF PARENTAL BURNOUT MANIFESTATION IN MODERN FAMILIES

Abstract

The paper investigates parental burnout as a distinct manifestation of chronic stress, outlining its structural dimensions, underlying determinants, assessment criteria, and intensity levels. Understanding the dynamics of modern family life requires attention to this phenomenon, as it plays a decisive role in shaping the quality of parent – child interactions, influences parental emotional well-being, and sets the framework for children’s social development. To capture the multifaceted nature of parental burnout, the study applied a set of standardized diagnostic instruments: the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) developed by I. Roskam, M. Mikolajczak, and M.-E. Brianda (2018); the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory by C. Spielberger and Yu. Khanin; and the coping behavior questionnaire by S. Norman, D. F. Endler, D. A. James, and M. I. Parker, adapted by T. A. Kryukova. This methodological toolkit Overall, parental burnout emerges as a multifactorial construct shaped by emotional, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions. The findings underscore the value of coordinated support strategies that foster self-regulation skills, strengthen adaptive coping mechanisms, provide psychoeducational assistance, and take into account gender-related differences. Developing effective psychocorrection strategies represents a promising avenue for future research and practice enabled a comprehensive exploration of both structural features and contributing factors. Empirical findings revealed that parental burnout is widespread, with mothers of preschool children – who simultaneously manage childcare and professional responsibilities – being particularly vulnerable. Emotional exhaustion and diminished parental efficacy emerged as the most prominent indicators, while emotional detachment from children was less evident, suggesting that affective bonds remain intact despite fatigue. Empirical findings revealed that parental burnout is widespread, with mothers of preschool children – who simultaneously manage childcare and professional responsibilities – being particularly vulnerable. Emotional exhaustion and diminished parental efficacy emerged as the most prominent indicators, while emotional detachment from children was less evident, suggesting that affective bonds remain intact despite fatigue. The interaction between elevated anxiety and maladaptive coping strategies, particularly avoidance, substantially intensified vulnerability to burnout. Conversely, problem – focused coping served as a partial buffer against its detrimental effects. Gender-specific patterns highlight the necessity of tailored interventions: mothers require support in reducing situational anxiety and sustaining emotional resources, while fathers benefit from strengthening long-term self-regulation and trust in their own capability to manage the demands of parenthood