When Parental Burnout Hits: Dyadic Effects on Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Families, Buffering Role of Supportive Coparenting and Differences Across Family Fertility Situations

Parental burnout has become increasingly common, often accompanied by depressive symptoms. This study aims to explore the actor and partner effects of parental burnout on depressive symptoms, alongside the moderating role of supportive coparenting and its differences between only-child and non-only-child families. Longitudinal dyadic data were collected from 501 heterosexual parent dyads at two time points. First, Actor-Partner Interdependence Model results showed that parental burnout had significant actor and partner effects on maternal depressive symptoms, but only a partner effect on paternal depressive symptoms. Second, the Actor-Partner Interdependence Moderation Model results revealed that maternal perceived supportive coparenting buffered both the adverse effects of maternal burnout on mothers and fathers, while exacerbating the adverse effects of paternal burnout on fathers. Finally, multi-group analysis showed that significant differences in the moderating effects of perceived supportive coparenting between only-child and non-only-child families.