Parental Burnout Trajectories in Italian Parents with and without Psychological Diagnosis

Parental burnout is an increasingly recognized psychological condition characterized by overwhelming exhaustion related to the parental role, emotional distancing from one’s children, and a sense of ineffectiveness as a parent. This study investigates the longitudinal trajectories of parental burnout over a 9-month period among Italian mothers and fathers, with particular attention to differences based on parental role and psychological vulnerability. A total of 300 parents (203 mothers) completed all four waves of data collection of a longitudinal broader multi-regional project. The project was Funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, Mission 4 Component 1 CUP J53D23017150001. Parents were assessed at three time points (baseline, 3 months, and 9 months) using validated measures of parental burnout, coparenting, depression, and contextual factors such as work-family conflict and perceived support. The sample comprised parents from the general population and a clinical subgroup diagnosed with dysthymia and generalized anxiety disorder according to DSM-5 criteria, recruited through territorial mental health services. Growth curve modeling identified distinct burnout trajectories: a stable-low group, a moderate-decreasing group, and a high-stable group. Parents recruited from clinical services were significantly more likely to follow high-risk trajectories. Factors such as parental role, single parenthood, and high work-family conflict were also associated with elevated and persistent burnout. These findings underscore the heterogeneity of parental burnout experiences and highlight the need for early identification and tailored interventions, especially for psychologically vulnerable parents. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how individual and contextual risk factors interact over time in shaping burnout outcomes. Implications for clinical practice and service delivery include the importance of sustained psychological support, integration of parenting-focused interventions in mental health services, and policies addressing structural barriers to parental well-being.