The Role of Parental Depressive Symptoms and Burnout in Externalizing Behaviors of Toddlers

ABSTRACT Background Early externalizing problems are often shaped by parental challenges within the family system. Research on the dyadic effects of parental depression and burnout in non‐Western contexts remains limited. Objective This study examined how parental depressive symptoms and burnout predict toddlers' externalizing behaviors in a Turkish dyadic context. Methods We recruited 144 mother–father dyads with 1‐to‐3‐year‐old toddlers, and they responded to questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, parental burnout, and toddler externalizing problems. Results Neither maternal nor paternal depressive symptoms predicted mother‐ or father‐reported externalizing behaviors. However, parental burnout and depressive symptoms were positively associated within and across partners. Notably, maternal parental burnout significantly predicted father‐reported and marginally predicted mother‐reported externalizing problems. Conclusion These findings suggest that maternal burnout may play a more prominent role than depressive symptoms in early externalizing problems. Implications Given the interdependent nature of parental well‐being, maternal burnout emerges as a critical target for early prevention and intervention efforts.