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RESEARCH PAPER
Self-care behaviours and parental burnout in a large sample of Polish mothers
1
Department of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
2
Institute of Psychology, University of Zielona Góra, Poland
3
Department of Psychology, University College of Professional Education, Wrocław, Poland
Corresponding author
Natalia Pilarska
Department of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Department of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
The severity of parental burnout in Poland is the highest in the world. This is a significant social problem for both parents and their children. Previous research on burnout indicates the importance of self-care in reducing the risk of burnout. Therefore, it was decided to investigate whether self-care is a predictor of parental burnout, and if so, which self-care behaviours are more significant predictors of parental burnout in Polish mothers.
Material and methods:
The study included 1,113 women from the general Polish population, aged 20–50 (M = 32.01, SD = 4.20). Parental burnout and self-care were assessed using the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) and the Self-Care Questionnaire, respectively.
Results:
As expected, the correlational analysis revealed negative links between the all self-care dimensions and parental burnout. Regression analysis indicated that among the eight dimensions of self-care, the most significant predictors of parental burnout were valuing oneself and one’s life, readiness and initiative to face life’s challenges, and belief about the availability and possibility of obtaining social support. Across demographic variables, living in larger cities, a higher number of children, and a higher level of education were associated with higher levels of parental burnout in Polish mothers.
Conclusions:
Higher levels of self-care behaviours were associated with lower levels of parental burnout in Polish mothers.
The severity of parental burnout in Poland is the highest in the world. This is a significant social problem for both parents and their children. Previous research on burnout indicates the importance of self-care in reducing the risk of burnout. Therefore, it was decided to investigate whether self-care is a predictor of parental burnout, and if so, which self-care behaviours are more significant predictors of parental burnout in Polish mothers.
Material and methods:
The study included 1,113 women from the general Polish population, aged 20–50 (M = 32.01, SD = 4.20). Parental burnout and self-care were assessed using the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) and the Self-Care Questionnaire, respectively.
Results:
As expected, the correlational analysis revealed negative links between the all self-care dimensions and parental burnout. Regression analysis indicated that among the eight dimensions of self-care, the most significant predictors of parental burnout were valuing oneself and one’s life, readiness and initiative to face life’s challenges, and belief about the availability and possibility of obtaining social support. Across demographic variables, living in larger cities, a higher number of children, and a higher level of education were associated with higher levels of parental burnout in Polish mothers.
Conclusions:
Higher levels of self-care behaviours were associated with lower levels of parental burnout in Polish mothers.
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| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
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