Being parents is a job that requires our dedication and attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The responsibility of raising, caring for and educating children, combined with the other responsibilities we have as adults and the different social pressures that surround us, has led to the adoption of a word that was once exclusive to the world of work: burnout, thus defining the extreme exhaustion that parents live as "parental burnout".
And this is not something that only some studies have analyzed, but the parents themselves have said they suffer, because according to a recent survey, 90% of parents think that raising children is now more difficult compared to previous generations.
Parental burnout
As I said at the beginning, the word burnout, which translates in this context as "burned" or "wear", was previously used to refer to a series of symptoms that people presented in relation to the work environment, caused by long days and highly stressful jobs. Over time, the word began to be used in other situations, thus reaching family life.
When we talk about parental burnout or "worn or burned parents", we talk about certain specific symptoms that parents present and that manifest its existence. These include: muscle aches, recurrent headaches, insomnia, gastrointestinal disorders, tiredness or fatigue, anxiety, emotional isolation, feeling frustrated, as well as reluctance and desire to cry.
The survey
Through a survey of 2,000 parents in the United States and Canada, the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network explored and analyzed the impact that parental burnout has on work and family life, as well as what to suffer this implies.
In the survey, parents were asked the frequency and severity with which they presented or felt burnout, almost two thirds of respondents said they had ever felt this syndrome, while 40% believe that it has significantly affected their lives.
Among the symptoms that occur when we suffer from parental burnout, parents surveyed that the main ones they have felt are:
- Extreme frustration with tasks / responsibilities related to children
- Do not bring or nurture the way they would like
- Feel constantly exhausted
- Lack of satisfaction as parents
- Feeling anxious about children's development
- Inability to make your daily commitments
Analyzing the impact that burnout had both at work and at home, it was found that this ranges from reducing productivity, to manifesting high levels of anxiety, depression and insomnia, thus affecting in a general way the ability of parents to perform at a high level:
- 45% of parents feel constantly anxious and worried
- 38% have depression and feelings of unhappiness
- 35% feel unable to give their family quality time
- 17% commented that burnout interferes with their sleep quality or sleeping hours
- 13% said they had low performance and productivity at work
- 12% believe that the relationship with their partner is damaged
Parents were asked if they considered that raising children today was more or less difficult than at other times. Most of them, specifically 88% consider that today it is more difficult to raise children than when they were children.
And what leads parents to burnout?
Among other things, the fact that both parents work, present economic difficulties and that their children are not cooperative thanks to all the digital distractions of the time, are some of the factors that contribute to parental burnout.
By asking parents what they consider as obstacles to having a "healthy parenthood," 29% of them consider that the distractions caused by social networks hinder their work as parents. They also include the fact that both parents work (27%), as well as bullying (21%), violence and school safety (18%) and financial stress (17%).
Among the main causes they felt were guilty of suffering from parental burnout, they listed the following:
- 33% of them consider that the lack of cooperation of their children (children and adolescents) is one of the causes of burnout.
- 29% think that this occurs due to pressure and fatigue both at work and at home
- 29% feel it is caused by financial pressures and concerns
- 26% think they have too many distractions caused by social networks and digital media
- 21% feel overwhelmed by children's activities
- 20% believe it is due to the constant demands and expectations of them as parents
Is there a difference in the burnout of mothers and fathers?
Of the total respondents, 66% of women suffer from burnout, compared with 57% of parents. According to the results of the survey, there are some notable differences between what each one feels.
In the case of women, they are presented feelings of inadequacy in their role as mothers, high levels of anxiety and concern about the safety of children in schools, including bullying.
While in men, they feel that burnout affects their working life, they feel lacking in joy in their role as parents and consider that the fact that both parents work is a factor that causes parental burnout.
Measures to combat parental burnout
Within the survey, parents were also asked what they considered could help prevent or reduce parental burnout. Your responses included activities that help to relax or change the way and methods of parenting They had with their children.
34% believe that taking time for themselves is something that would help reduce burnout, which is something that we have sometimes recommended: a time alone for mothers (although it would also work for parents).
Exercising to help release stress was also one of the possible solutions they propose, as well as approaching to talk with family and friends to help them find a solution to the situations that overwhelm them.
As we can see, parental burnout It is a problem caused by the modern lifestyle we lead today. We must look for solutions that help us reduce the stress we feel, from doing our best to have moments to relax and give less importance to the social pressure caused by social networks, as well as find or try other forms of parenting that help us to have Better results as parents.
Photos | iStock
Via | Fatherly
In Babies and more | Parental burnout or extreme exhaustion of parents is real, one study confirms, do you suffer from Burnout syndrome? Mothers who can't anymore,
