Parental burnout

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 23, 2026

Parental burnout is exhaustion when chronic parenting stress outweighs resources. It was systematically measured from 2017 by Roskam, Mikolajczak and colleagues.

Contents

1. Overview
2. Why it matters
3. Frequently asked questions
4. References

Overview

Similar to job burnout but tied to an inescapable role. Higher prevalence in individualistic cultures (Roskam et al., 2021).

Why it matters

Linked to escape ideation, neglect and violence (Mikolajczak et al., 2019). Over-involvement such as helicopter parenting adds strain.

It is an empty tank, not a lack of love. Put on your own oxygen mask first.

Frequently asked questions

Do fathers experience it?: Yes.

References

Roskam, I., Raes, M.-E., & Mikolajczak, M. (2017). Exhausted parents: Development and preliminary validation of the Parental Burnout Inventory. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 163.
Roskam, I., Brianda, M.-E., & Mikolajczak, M. (2018). A step forward in the conceptualization and measurement of parental burnout: The Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 758.
Mikolajczak, M., Gross, J. J., & Roskam, I. (2019). Parental burnout: What is it, and why does it matter? Clinical Psychological Science, 7(6), 1319–1329.
Roskam, I., et al. (2021). Parental burnout around the globe: A 42-country study. Affective Science, 2(1), 58–79.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

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This article was last updated on October 23, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.