Early Child Temperament Predicts Parental Burnout in First‐Time Mothers

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the temperament in early childhood and parental burnout in first‐time mothers. Background From birth, a child's temperament manifests in their physiological and emotional expressions, which have been linked to levels of parental stress, potentially contributing to parental burnout. Method Rothbart's questionnaires for measuring early temperament and Parental Burnout Assessment were administered to first‐time mothers of children under 3 years of age (88 mothers of infants and 248 mothers of toddlers). Results Parental burnout in mothers of infants was associated with the child's negative affectivity, along with background variables (male gender of the child, the presence of special needs, and maternal employment), which together explained 35% of the variance in parental burnout. In mothers of toddlers, 19% of the variance in parental burnout was explained by the child's negative affectivity and lower orienting/regulation. Conclusion We have demonstrated an association between a young child's temperament (specifically, negative affectivity and regulatory capacity) and parental burnout in mothers. Implications Knowledge about the existence and symptoms of parental burnout, as well as the importance of a child's temperament as a contextual variable in relation to burnout, should be incorporated into prenatal education programs for parents and in the professional training of pediatricians and midwives.