Journal Article

Self-Esteem, Socially Prescribed Perfectionism, and Parental Burnout

Sorkkila, Matilda, Aunola, Kaisa, Raudasoja, Mirjam

2023

Overview

Socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) has been shown to be a risk factor for parental burnout (Sorkkila & Aunola, 2020 ). In the present study, we investigated the moderating role of self-esteem in this association. A total of 479 Finnish mothers of infants filled in questionnaires measuring their self-esteem, SPP, and symptoms of parental burnout. The results of structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that mothers’ self-esteem moderated the effect of SPP on parental burnout: Mothers with high self-esteem were at lower risk of showing burnout symptoms even when SPP co-occurred, whereas for mothers with low self-esteem, the effect of SPP on burnout symptoms was further strengthened. The results can be applied when aiming to improve maternal well-being by recognizing the risk factors of parental burnout and by offering counseling for parents at high risk. Highlights Mothers’ self-esteem moderated the relationship between parental burnout and socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP). Mothers with high self-esteem were at lower risk of burnout than mothers with low self-esteem even when SPP co-occurred. For mothers with low self-esteem, the effect of SPP on burnout symptoms was further strengthened.

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Behavioral Science and Psychology / Burnout / Child and School Psychology / High risk / Infants / Maternal and infant welfare / Mothers / Original Paper / Parent-child relations / Parents & parenting / Perfectionism / Psychology / Risk factors / Self esteem / Social Sciences / Sociology / Structural equation modeling / Well being