Citation

Séjourné N, Sanchez-Rodriguez R, Leboullenger A, Callahan S. J. Reprod. Infant Psychol. 2018; 36(3): 276-288.

Affiliation

Centre d'Etudes et des Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé , Université de Toulouse UT2 J , Toulouse Cedex 9 , France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02646838.2018.1437896

PMID

29517340

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Maternal burn-out is a psychological, emotional and physiological condition resulting from the accumulation of various stressors characterised by a moderate but also a chronic and repetitive dimension. Little research has focused on this syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to assess maternal burn-out rate and to identify factors associated with this state of exhaustion.

METHOD: 263 French mothers aged between 20 and 49 years answered five scales quantifying maternal burn-out, perceived social support, parental stress, depression and anxiety symptoms and history of postnatal depression.

RESULTS: About 20% of mothers were affected by maternal burn-out. The main factors related to maternal burn-out were having a child perceived as difficult, history of postnatal depression, anxiety, satisfaction of a balance between professional and personal life and parental stress.

CONCLUSION: This research shows the need for further work on maternal burn-out to better understand and prevent this syndrome.

Language: en

Keywords

Maternal burn-out; depression; exhaustion; parental stress