The Association Between Socially Prescribed Perfectionism and Parental Burnout Among Mothers of Minor Children: Sequential mediating effects of cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion

Objectives: This study examined whether cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion sequentially mediate the association between socially prescribed perfectionism and parental burnout among mothers of minor children. Methods: A self-report online survey was administered to 366 mothers co-residing with at least on minor child across South Korea from September 1 to October 10, 2022. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and PROCESS Macro 4.1. Results: Socially prescribed perfectionism showed a significant direct positive effect on parental burnout. Both cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion individually mediated this relationship, and a sequential mediation pathway was also significant. Conclusions: Grounded in the Balance between Risks and Resources theory, the findings advance understanding of parental burnout among mothers of minor children and suggest counseling directions that incorporate personality, cognitive, and emotional traits.