Browsing by Author "Haapala, Sonja"

Objectives. The aim of this thesis is to find out which factors cause parental burnout. Furthermore, the aim is to produce information for parents, society, and decision-makers on how to raise a child with respect for childhood, but without them having to give up their own life. The study investigates risk factors that can cause burnout to parents. The research question is which factors affect parental burnout and to be more specific what the risk factors and protective factors of burnout are. In this thesis, a descriptive literature review was made. A lot of previous research has been done on the topic. The resource and burden factors of parenting research project have investigated the exhaustion of parents around the world. There are clear indications that exhaustion will soon be one of the national diseases unless something is done to the matter. The purpose of this thesis is to open the topic from the perspective of risk factors and to understand better the exhaustion of parents and to find out something new on the topic. I connect the subject to Home Economics, because I see that the subject contains content areas that young people could use in their future. Starting their own family and becoming a parent is relevant to most of the young people in Home Economics classes at some point in their lives. Methods. As a research method, I used a descriptive literature review. My research was based on the resource and risk factors of parenting (VoiKu) research project carried out at the University of Jyväskylä. The driving factor for the entire research process of this descriptive literature review is the research questions. The questions that I have prepared are based on a broad topic and theme related to parental burnout. The research material consists of previously published research information relevant to the research topic. The material is compiled from scientific publications that I selected from the International Investigation of Parental Burnout (IIPB) ─ research project. Results and conclusions. According to the results, risk factors for parental burnout were socially prescribed perfectionism, self-oriented perfectionism, child-oriented perfectionism, personality traits, unemployment, depression, anxiety, work flexibility compared to a partner, low support from a partner, lack of cooperation, parenting styles, the role of values, parents' negative views of adolescence, emotion regulation, emotion regulation strategies, positive parenting, and lack of social support. According to the results, these risk factors were related to parental burnout. The results showed that the risk factors of parental burnout are important to consider when a parent experiences burnout. The results also showed that parental burnout is a very multidimensional phenomenon, and each risk factor is unique, and it would be important to identify these risk factors to be able to react to them in time and for the parent/parents to get the support they need in time. Parental exhaustion often affects both parents, which means that it would be important to remember that the different service providers face families as a team and not just as individuals.