The relationship between parental burnout, parental perfectionism, and parental reflective functioning: A mixed-methods study

Parental burnout (PB) is a syndrome characterized by overwhelming exhaustion, emotional distancing from one's children, and a loss of parental fulfillment. In this mixed-method study, the quantitative phase examined the relationships among parental perfectionism (PP), parental reflective functioning (PRF), and parental burnout (PB), as well as the mediating role of PRF in the relationship between PP and PB. The study included mothers (N = 152) with children aged between 1.5 and 5 years. Findings revealed that higher levels of perfectionism were significantly associated with greater burnout and that this relationship was partially mediated by prementalizing modes, an indicator of impaired PRF. In contrast, the more adaptive PRF dimensions (certainty about mental states and interest and curiosity) were not significantly associated with either perfectionism or burnout. The qualitative phase employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with six mothers who described lived experiences of burnout. Themes such as emotional withdrawal and loneliness, lack of support, disrupted play interactions, and feelings of inadequacy emerged, offering nuanced insight into the emotional and relational dimensions of PB. Together, the findings suggest that perfectionistic parenting heightens burnout risk through compromised mentalization processes. Enhancing PRF and challenging rigid parenting standards may reduce burnout and promote more attuned caregiving.