Parental Burnout and Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread across the United States, resulting in significant changes in almost all aspects daily life. These changes place parents at increased risk for parental burnout. Parental burnout is a chronic condition resulting from high levels of parenting-related stress due to a mismatch between the demands of parenting and the resources available for parents to meet those demands. Research on parental burnout has suggested that parents who experience burnout are more likely to engage in child abuse and neglect, placing children at risk for detrimental short-and long-term outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to review the concept of parental burnout, discuss parental burnout in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and focus specifically on the effects of child maltreatment. Implications for practitioners will be discussed.

Family violence against children in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic: a review of current perspectives and risk factors

“…At the level of the microsystem, increased oppositional behavior and limit testing are expected in children. This conduct may elicit harsh responses from parents [40], who may themselves be undergoing parental burnout, either driven or exacerbated by the consequences of the pandemic [41]. Children's own stress and uncertainty about the pandemic may add to the tension felt by their parents.…”

Parents’ Views on Young Children’s Distance Learning and Screen Time During COVID-19 Class Suspension in Hong Kong

“…With younger children, learning at home means that parental support is required. This sudden shift to distance learning and the challenges it presents are issue of concern because without proper support to parents, these changes may increase the likelihood of parents experiencing parenting stress and parental burnout, which may in turn negatively impact children (Griffith, 2020). Children too are at increased risk for overuse of screen time during class suspension, which may be detrimental to their development (Bruni et al, 2015;De Jong et al, 2013).…”

COVID-19 burnout, COVID-19 stress and resilience: Initial psychometric properties of COVID-19 Burnout Scale

“…Bradley and Chahar (2020) suggested the importance of taking healthcare professionals' mental health into account during the pandemic to boost productivity and reduce burnout derived from pandemic related stress and uncertainty. By employing a different sample, Griffith (2020) highlighted the role of parental burnout on child maltreatment during periods of disasters. He suggested that parents who experience parental-related stress or parental burnout are more likely to involve in child maltreatment, child neglect, and child abuse during COVID-19 pandemic.…”