As you have read elsewhere in this publication, burnout is often defined as a condition caused by a toxic and unrelentingly stressful work environment. Many researchers now broaden that definition to include a constellation of symptoms characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (losing our sense of who we are and our connection to others), and a lack of selfefficacy that can result from chronic exposure to emotionally draining environments across domains and outside of helping professions.

One such area receiving more attention in the research—especially since the pandemic—is burnout affecting parents. It stands to reason that any responsibility beset by too much stress and too few resources can overwhelm a person’s ability to cope—and parenting is no exception. Parental burnout is defined as “a prolonged response to chronic and overwhelming parental stress.”¹ Symptoms specific to parents include both emotional and physical exhaustion, as well as physical discomfort (somatic complaints like back or neck pain), poor sleep quality, emotional distancing from their children, a loss of one’s sense of self as a parent (especially in contrast with previously feeling connected to that role), feelings of being “fed up” with the parenting role, and a sense of incompetence in their role as a parent.^2,3

Researchers at Ohio State University specifically studied the pandemic’s effect on working parents, and here is what they found:⁴

• Sixty-six percent (66%) of parents reported being burned out.
• Factors strongly associated with parental burnout included being female, the number of children living in the home, parental anxiety, having a child(ren) diagnosed with anxiety or ADHD, and concern that their child(ren) may have an undiagnosed mental health disorder.
• Burnout was strongly associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and increased alcohol consumption in parents, as well as the likelihood of engaging in punitive parenting practices.
• Parental burnout is also associated with an increased risk of children demonstrating signs of distress, such as internalizing (e.g., feels sad or unhappy, is down on themselves, worries a lot), externalizing (e.g., fights with other children, doesn’t listen to rules, teases others), and attention behaviors (e.g., inability to sit still, has trouble concentrating, is easily distracted).

In addition to the factors mentioned above, other researchers have found that parental perfectionism increases burnout risk, as does chronic stress. In a profession that glorifies perfectionism, clings to a culture of overwork, and consistently ranks high in chronic stress and low in social support, it comes as no surprise that parents in the legal profession experience burnout at high rates. While no studies of parental burnout specifically address lawyers, a good deal of correlational research (including in the most recent Bloomberg survey) finds that women lawyers with children were the most burned out of all respondents.5 Race, culture, and country also affect burnout.

What can we do to prevent or mitigate parental burnout? First, we need to recognize the risks and symptoms. Building emotional competence and self-awareness allows us to identify and address these changes early and proactively. Second, a supportive community is vital for all parents, but especially those in the legal profession. Some of us are fortunate to have deep and strong networks through supportive family, but many of us need to craft our own safety net. Surrounding ourselves with people who support our parenting selves is protective against overwhelm and thus burnout. Research shows that developing positive parenting skills and self-compassion practices can protect and intervene against burnout. Lastly, creating time for leisure and intentional self-care is crucial for our own functioning, as well as modeling for our children. If you need support, accessing one-on-one or group services is a great start.

 

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