Parenthood regret, a feeling arising from the judgment that the decision to have children was wrong and the belief that an alternative choice would have led to a better life, is influenced by various demographic, relational, and contextual factors. Despite its significance, large-scale studies on parenthood regret employing validated measures have only emerged in recent years, and our understanding of the phenomenon is in its infancy. This research aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Parenthood Regret Scale (PRS) and expand on its relation with parental identity, reflective functioning, parenting behaviors, and relevant sociodemographics using a network approach. Data were collected from 3,165 parents (81.93

Parenthood is a life changing transition, filled with both good and bad. Sometimes, parenthood serves as a hub for enduring intense stress, which can precipitate the development of parental burnout (PB). PB has been shown to have serious consequences, one of the most significant being an increase of violence towards children. Considering that trait emotional intelligence (EI) involves increased self-control and empathy, higher trait EI could decrease the link between PB and violence. The present study aimed to determine whether (and, if so, to what extent) trait EI attenuates the link between PB and violence. 506 parents answered an online cross-sectional survey. Trait EI attenuates the link between PB and violence: the higher the parent’s EI, the lower the link between PB and violence. However and interestingly, even in parents who have high EI, the link between PB and violence, although lower, persists. Trait EI can contribute to mitigate the link between PB and violence, thus also showing that some factors/contexts prevent EI from fully manifesting itself and the current study both illustrates and discusses this interesting phenomenon.

Parental burnout has gained global attention in recent years due to its effects on family functioning and the well-being of both parents and children. While numerous risk and protective factors have been identified, limited research has examined how group dynamics relate to parental burnout. Our current cross-sectional, cross-cultural study investigated the associations and underlying mechanisms linking perceived social support, parents' personal social comparison, and critical comparison and shaming by family members (CCS) to parental burnout. The sample included 1,373 parents from the United Kingdom and Vietnam (Mage = 37.90, SD = 7.93 years). Our results indicated that perceived social support was negatively correlated with parental burnout, whereas personal social comparison and critical comparison and shaming by family members were positively correlated with parental burnout, with similar patterns observed across both countries. We also tested an exploratory moderation model and found that, in the Vietnamese sample, but not the U.K. sample, the protective effect of perceived social support was stronger among parents with higher levels of personal social comparison. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating group-dynamic factors (e.g., perceived social support and comparison) into prevention and intervention programs for parental burnout and offer new directions for future research in this field. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Regret is a universal emotion, yet regretting the decision to become a parent remains a profound cultural taboo. Recent evidence establishes parenthood regret as a distinct phenomenon driven by counterfactual thinking. This review synthesizes a decade of research, revealing that the inherent irreversibility of the parental role makes this regret uniquely maladaptive, leading to a chronic psychological burden. Emphasizing the implications of these findings, we highlight how understanding parenthood regret can inform clinical interventions, shape social policies regarding declining fertility, and foster a more authentic public discourse. Recognizing this experience does not diminish the value of family life but provides a necessary window into how life-defining decisions and counterfactual thought reshape human identity.

To what extent (if any) do environmental concerns influence the desire for children? Environmental concerns are increasing, particularly among young people, and some studies have shown that these concerns are associated with a desire for fewer children or none at all. However, we do not know the weight of these environmental concerns (more specifically, ecological worldview and eco-anxiety) compared to other factors known to influence the desire for children (e.g. the burden that can be associated with childrearing or the fulfillment that can come with parenthood). To address this question, 1260 childless participants responded to an online questionnaire. The results first show that when considered alone (i.e. via correlations), ecological worldview and eco-anxiety are both negatively associated with the desire for children. However, when they are introduced together in the model, only ecological worldview remains significant. More importantly, when they are introduced together with other well-known predictors of the desire for children (unrelated to environmental changes), neither remains significant, while some other predictors do. These results nuance the role of environmental concerns in shaping the desire for children.

ObjectiveThis study examines the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between parenthood regret and parental burnout.BackgroundParenthood regret and parental burnout are increasingly recognized as common, yet distinct forms of negative parental experiences with potentially severe consequences for family wellbeing. Prior research has primarily studied these constructs separately, providing limited insight into how they mutually reinforce one another over time.MethodTwo longitudinal studies were conducted involving parents from Poland (Study 1; N = 1275, emerging adults, convenience sample, 12-month duration) and primarily the United Kingdom and United States (Study 2; N = 1545, diverse ages, convenience sample, 8-month duration). Parenthood regret and parental burnout were assessed using validated self-report measures administered at three intervals; data were analyzed using cross-lagged panel models (CLPM) and random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM).ResultsFindings indicated reciprocal associations at the between-person level: parents experiencing higher parental burnout reported increased parenthood regret over time and vice versa. At the within-person level, however, only increases in parenthood regret consistently predicted subsequent increases in parental burnout; the reverse direction was not supported.ConclusionParenthood regret and parental burnout are reciprocally linked at the between-person level, while parenthood regret appears to play a particularly significant role at the within-person developmental level.ImplicationsResults underscore the need for interventions addressing parenthood regret concerns to reduce long-term burnout risks.

The present preregistered study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two types of group interventions delivered online in counteracting parental burnout and its accompanying problems: depressive symptoms, child abuse and neglect, perfectionism, dissatisfaction of psychological needs, and difficulties with parental reflective functioning. The randomized controlled trial involved 118 mothers (Mage = 36.07, SD = 5.10). The mothers were randomized to three groups: two intervention conditions lasting eight weeks each (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Parenting in Balance) and a control group (waiting list). The studied variables were measured before the intervention, 24–48 h after the intervention, three months after the intervention, and six months after the intervention. The results revealed that both interventions effectively and to a similar degree reduced parental burnout in mothers, even six months after the intervention. Moreover, parental burnout declined further after the interventions suggesting that the interventions tested allowed mothers to develop the competencies they used to cope autonomously. Concerning other characteristics, some differences in effectiveness occurred between the two types of interventions. The present study is the first evidence of the effectiveness of online group support in counteracting parental burnout in mothers. This is the first study on the effectiveness of online group interventions against parental burnout. We compared the effectiveness of two different methods of support for parents experiencing parental burnout to a control group that received no intervention. Both tested methods of support for parents experiencing parental burnout were found to be similarly effective. The positive effect of participation continued six months after the end of the interventions. The interventions not only reduced parental burnout in mothers but also helped rebalance their burdens and resources.

Limited research has examined how micro- and mesosystem-level family factors relate to parental burnout across cultural contexts. Using a cross-cultural design, this study explored the relationships and underlying mechanisms linking work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, family routine, and family ritual meaning to parental burnout. The sample consisted of 1373 parents from the United Kingdom and Vietnam (Mage = 37.90, SDage = 7.93 years; 77.7% mothers). We found that work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, family routines, and ritual meaning were significantly correlated with parental burnout, with similar patterns of association between the two countries. However, culture-specific differences emerged. After controlling for demographic variables, work-family conflict was the strongest predictor of parental burnout in the UK sample, whereas family routines played a more prominent role in the Vietnamese sample. These findings underscore the importance of cultural context in understanding parental burnout and offer insights for theoretical frameworks and clinical prevention and intervention.

Parental burnout arises from persistent and severe parenting stress and is mainly characterized by profound exhaustion in the parental role. Whereas much of the research on this condition relies on questionnaires, developmental studies advocate for the use of spontaneous speech samples to capture naturalistic parenting experiences. The coded "expressed emotion" (EE) within these speech samples has proven to be a valid indicator of the emotional climate of the parent-child relationship and meaningfully maps onto measures of parental well-being. This study used EE as a lens to examine parental burnout by first comparing EE between parents applying for parental burnout treatment and a control group and, second, by exploring associations between parents' EE and their parental burnout scores. A total of 106 Belgian parents (94.3% mothers, mostly aged 30-39 years), including 55 parents applying for parental burnout treatment and 51 parents in a control group, completed the Parental Burnout Assessment and were prompted to talk for 5 min about how they feel as a parent. These speech samples were coded based on EE, with coders being blind to participants' parental burnout scores and group memberships. Most parents applying for treatment (90.9%) showed high EE and demonstrated more criticism, higher emotional overinvolvement, and lower warmth compared to the control group, with substantial effect sizes. Criticism showed the strongest association with parents' parental burnout scores. This study highlights the promising benefits of listening to naturally provided cues in parents' spontaneous speech about parenthood, thereby pointing toward crucial pathways for the detection of parental burnout. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Recent research has uncovered significant associations between parental burnout (PB) and parenthood regret (PR), challenging their historical isolation in studies. In this preregistered, multimethod, multisample investigation, we aimed to explore the distinctiveness of PB and PR and their impacts on escape ideation, parental neglect, and violence. The study involved 973 Polish-speaking parents (Study 1) and 1,429 French- and English-speaking parents (Study 2). Analyses identified four profiles based on levels of PB and PR. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor latent model (PB and PR) over a one-factor model (parental distress). PB, rather than PR, showed cross-sectional and prospective associations with escape ideation, parental neglect, and violence. No exacerbating effect of PR on the relationship between PB and its consequences was found. These findings were consistent across studies and samples, establishing PB and PR as distinct constructs. Further research is needed to understand the consequences of PR.

Parental Burnout (PB) arises from enduring and overwhelming parenting stress and is characterized by an intense exhaustion in the parental role. This study aims to provide a better understanding of this condition by examining the role of parents’ basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, relatedness, and competence), as defined in Self-Determination Theory, in PB. Whereas previous studies relied on questionnaires to examine associations between parents’ need-based experiences and PB, the current study introduces an innovative methodological approach by coding parents’ speech samples on parenthood, enabling both quantitative and qualitative analyses. A sample of 107 parents (94.4

Research has linked preschool children’s externalizing behaviors with increased parental stress, often through parenting behaviors and cognitions like self-efficacy. Less attention has been paid to how children’s behaviors may create cognitive biases in parents, causing them to focus on or remember negative behaviors, thus increasing stress. This study examined whether parental attention and memory biases mediate the link between child externalizing behaviors and parental stress, and explored differences between mothers and fathers. The sample included 43 heterosexual couples with children aged 3–6 years. Results showed that memory biases (but not attentional biases) mediated this relationship, particularly for fathers, who were more likely to recall their child’s negative behaviors, contributing to higher stress. No crossover effects were found between parents. These findings suggest that interventions targeting memory bias modification may be particularly beneficial for fathers, addressing cognitive schemas related to their child’s behaviors.

Environmental changes are associated with a decrease in the desire for children and the number of children desired. But what are the mechanisms behind these relationships? This brief report examines the role of two potential mediators: concerns for the future of a potential child and concerns for the environmental impact of having a child. The cross-sectional questionnaire completed online by 1260 childless individuals reveals that both types of concerns act as mediators between environmental changes and the desire for children and the number of children desired (with all indirect pathways showing significance). Nonetheless, concerns for the future of the child have, in some cases, a more substantial mediating effect compared to concerns for the environment. These findings strengthen an emerging literature and suggest important avenues for future research.

While research on parental burnout has expanded dramatically in recent years, a critical gap remains in understanding the interplay between this condition and child-related variables. This study aimed to investigate the bidirectional and transactional dynamics between parental burnout and the child's internalizing and externalizing behaviors. A longitudinal design with three data collection waves, spaced 4 months apart, was employed. The sample comprised 1,458 parents (French and English speaking) who completed online surveys, including a measure of the child's behavior, assessed by both parents and another informant. Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze bidirectional and recursive relationships. The cross-lagged panel model results, further informed by path comparison analyses, identified significant bidirectional and transactional effects equally driven by parent and child, suggesting a cyclical relationship between parental burnout and child behavior. These findings highlight the reciprocal nature of these dynamics, challenging the traditional view of unilateral influence. This study provides valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between parental burnout and child behavior, thereby making an important contribution to developmental psychopathology. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Despite its significant growth over the past fifteen years, research on parental burnout is just beginning to explore the relationships of the syndrome with child behavior. Previous research with adolescents has shown the existence of associations between parental burnout and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in the offspring. The current study is an attempt to (i) replicate this preliminary evidence specifically among Chilean preschool children and (ii) explore the mediating/moderating effects of positive parenting that may be involved in these putative associations. A sample of 383 Chilean mothers participated in this cross-sectional online study. The results confirmed the associations between parental burnout and child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. We also observed that positive parenting was a mediator in the relationship linking parental burnout and the child’s internalizing (full mediation) and externalizing (partial mediation) behaviors. Positive parenting also partially mediated the association between the child’s externalizing behavior and parental burnout. Our results further suggested that the child’s externalizing behavior was possibly a more substantial contributing factor to parental burnout than the child’s internalizing behavior.

Mindfulness- and self-compassion-based programs have been shown to reduce parental stress, and levels of mindfulness and self-compassion have been shown to be negatively related to parental burnout (PB) factors. Based on these results, the present study aimed to test the efficacy of an 8-week mindfulness and compassion-based group approach (MCA) (n = 29) compared with the existing Parenting in Balance Program (PBP) (n = 25). Parents were blindly enrolled in one of the two conditions. Parental burnout, parental neglect and violence, irritability, parental balance between stress-enhancing and stress-alleviating factors, hair cortisol, and mindful parenting and self-compassion were measured before, after, and three months after the end of the program. All the measured outcomes positively changed over time in both conditions, except for irritability. Large effect sizes were found for parental burnout, parental neglect and violence, and mindful parenting and self-compassion. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the decrease in parental burnout in the MCA was not significantly related to an increase in mindful parenting nor self-compassion. Furthermore, certain participants from the MCA group reported higher levels of parental burnout after the intervention. The absence of specific effects between MCA and PBP programs suggests the presence of common effectiveness factors. Therefore, future studies need to analyze specific variables that may explain differential effects of programs on parental burnout levels.

Evidence of gender differences in parental burnout has been replicated in several studies and in several cultures, showing a higher level of parental burnout in mothers but a greater sensitivity of fathers to this serious condition. However, the reasons for these differences have never been tested empirically. In this study, we tested whether mothers’ higher level of burnout is related to their greater investment in parenting activities. We also tested the greater sensitivity of fathers to a stress factor that is highly associated with parental burnout, emotion regulation. 1,322 Brazilian parents (41.3

The purpose of this study was to assess the factor structure and the measurement invariance of the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) across 10 countries based on the seven-factor coparenting model (i.e., Coparenting Agreement, Coparenting Closeness, Exposure to Conflict, Coparenting Support, Endorsement of Partner's Parenting; Division of Labor) proposed by Feinberg (2003). The results of research on coparenting from numerous countries have documented its foundational importance for parent mental health, family relationship quality, child development, and psychopathology. Yet, a cross-country perspective is still lacking. Such a perspective can provide insight into which dimensions of coparenting are universally recognized and which are especially prone to variation. A unique multinational data set, comprised of 15 individual studies collected across 10 countries (Belgium, Brazil, China, Israel, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, USA) in nine languages was established (N = 9,292; 51.1% mothers). Measurement invariance analyses were conducted. A six-factor structure (original seven factors minus Division of Labor) of the measure was consistent across the different contexts and measurement invariance was achieved at the configural level. There was no support for metric or scalar invariance. These findings provide a basis for the CRS to be used across countries and should inspire future quantitative and qualitative research in cross-country coparenting research to understand what aspects are universal and what aspects of coparenting are linked to specific material, relational, or ideational conditions that underlie high-quality coparenting.

ObjectiveThe aim of the current preregistered cross-sectional study was to examine whether in parents with high anxious (characterized with a negative model of self), dismissing (characterized with a negative model of others), and fearful attachment styles (characterized with a negative model of self and of others), the link between parental burnout and violence toward the offspring is stronger.BackgroundPast research has shown that parental burnout exacerbates violence toward the offspring, but the correlation is not perfect (r = .49), which suggests that not all parents in burnout out are violent, and that moderators might therefore be at play.MethodParticipants (N = 794) answered an online questionnaires one time, through Prolific. Parental burnout, violence, and attachment styles were measured through the Parental Burnout Assessment, the Parental Violence Scale, and the Relationship Questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were performed to test the moderating role of anxious, dismissing, and fearful attachment styles.ResultsParental burnout and all attachment styles are significantly related to violence. However, only fearful attachment style significantly potentiated the relation between parental burnout and violence.ConclusionIn parents with high fearful attachment style, the link between parental burnout and violence toward the offspring is stronger. Results are discussed in light of the role of internal models of self and others.ImplicationsAnxious, dismissing, and fearful attachment styles should systematically be investigated when dealing with burnt out parents, as some may be associated with a higher risk of violence toward the offspring.