Page 63 - IJPS-9-3

International Journal of
Population Studies COVID-19 effects on parent burnout

2020), anxiety disorders (Liu et al., 2020; Özdin & Bayrak Personality traits may play a role in the development
Özdin, 2020; Zhou et al., 2020), sleep problems (Zhou et of burnout in parents (Le Vigouroux et al., 2017; Le
al., 2020), and burnout (Barello et al., 2020; Sung et al., Vigouroux & Scola, 2018). Research showed that
2020) during the pandemic. In addition, studies show that parents with high levels of neuroticism and low levels
COVID-19 may be a risk factor for parent burnout. Based of conscientiousness and agreeableness are at risk for
on a study by Prikhidko et al. (2020), parents with higher parental burnout. Considered in the context of parenting,
levels of anxiety about COVID-19 and who believe they parents with high levels of neuroticism (having difficulty in
are at higher risk of getting sick tend to experience higher initiating and maintaining positive emotional interactions
levels of parent burnout. with their children) and low levels of agreeableness (having
difficulty in identifying and responding to their children’s
Globally, various restrictions and regulations have been
implemented in an attempt to curb the spread of severe needs) or low levels of conscientiousness (having difficulty
in providing a coherent and structured environment) are
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), thought to be at higher risk of experiencing parent burnout
the virus responsible for COVID-19, in the populations. In (Le Vigouroux et al., 2017).
March 2020, when first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was
confirmed in Türkiye (Türkiye Ministry of Interior, 2020), a One personality trait that may be particularly important
series of significant changes were executed in almost every in the emergence of parent burnout is perfectionism. It has
aspect of daily life during the pandemic. Many people had been reported that parental perfectionism is one of the
to work from home due to the quarantines and restrictions risk factors for parent burnout (Kawamoto et al., 2018),
applied to control the epidemic, and they were kept away and a higher level of perfectionism leads to a higher level
from their relatives and social support networks due to of parent burnout (Sorkkila & Aunola, 2020). Based on
social isolation. While most of the people were mandated the multidimensional conceptualization, Smith et al.
to stay inside their residences, parents had to deal with the (2016) categorized perfectionism into three dimensions:
increasing housework and parenting duties at home, as rigid, self-critical, and narcissistic perfectionism. Rigid
well as the education of their children who could not go perfectionism is characterized by the behavior of
to school but attended online lessons at home (Prikhidko demanding flawless performance from oneself and setting
et al., 2020). In addition to this functioning of daily life high standards for oneself. Self-critical perfectionism refers
routine, it seems possible that the COVID-19 epidemic, to the anxiety and self-critical evaluation of one’s mistakes
which causes economic, physical, and mental distress, may and imperfect performance; self-critical perfectionists
cause chronic stress and later burnout in parents (Griffith, believe that other people have high expectation of them.
2020). Narcissistic perfectionism is the tendency and expectation
of demanding perfection from others in a narcissistic,
Parent burnout is defined as a feeling of exhaustion overly critical, and self-justifying way.
about parent responsibilities and burnout in the parental
role, perceiving that current parenting ability is worse The aim of this study is to examine the level of parental
than what it was before, being fed up as a parent, no burnout in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic in terms
longer enjoying being with their child, and emotionally of personality traits, perfectionism, and demographic
withdrawing from their children (Roskam et al., 2018). variables. The previous studies on parental burnout have
In the context of the pandemic, parents may experience a biased emphasis on mothers of children with chronic
diseases or physical/mental disabilities, while studies
feelings such as feeling tired because they do not involving parents of healthy children, especially fathers,
have enough resources to fulfill their responsibilities are limited. In this respect, this study contributes to the
during the pandemic, feeling ashamed of not being a literature by highlighting the protective and risk factors
good enough parent when they compare themselves of parental burnout. In addition, studying the relationship
with their pre-pandemic parenting style, and feeling of these variables in the context of a pandemic provides
tired of being a parent. Changing routines, given their important insights for future studies that aim to protect
limited mobility and increased parenting demands, can and improve mental health of parents during a pandemic.
emotionally distance them from their children (Prikhidko
et al., 2020). Factors behind parent burnout may include 2. Data and methods
sociodemographic characteristics (family financial status,
parent’s age/unemployment and number of children, 2.1. Participants and procedures
etc.) and children’s characteristics (children’s age, After obtaining the approval of Maltepe University
developmental delays or illnesses, etc.) (Lindahl Norberg, Institute of Social Sciences Ethics Committee for the
2007; Lindström et al., 2011; Sorkkila & Aunola, 2020). research, necessary permissions were obtained on

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 57 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.387