Study examines how parental burnout affects vulnerable families and child welfare

Psychology Today reported that researcher Katherine M. Ryan and colleagues conducted a 2026 study examining the impact of parental burnout on families at risk of child neglect or abuse. The researchers defined parental burnout as a state marked by severe exhaustion and emotional distancing from children. [1]

Parenting stress, which is also called parental burnout, refers to the psychological and physiological stressors that arise directly from executing the caretaking role. These stress effects can become intensified when a child has complex physical, developmental, emotional, or behavioural care needs. [4]

According to Psychology Today, many parents face heightened vulnerability when juggling childcare alongside employment, family responsibilities, and financial strain without sufficient support. The publication noted that such overwhelming circumstances can lead to negative parenting practices and dysfunctional relationships between parents and their children. [1]