Unveiling the Uniqueness of Parental Burnout and Parenthood Regret: Impact on Parents and Children

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.