New Delhi, May 8
A recent study conducted by researchers from The Ohio State University has shed light on the alarming consequences of societal pressures on parents to attain perfection. Published on Wednesday, the study underscores how this pressure contributes to parental burnout and heightens the risk of children suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression.
The comprehensive study, based on a month-long survey of over 700 parents across the United States, revealed a staggering 57 percent of parents self-reported experiencing burnout. This burnout, as defined by the study, is strongly linked to both internal and external expectations placed upon parents. These expectations encompass various facets of parenting, including self-perception as a good parent, perceived judgment from others, availability for quality time with children, marital relationships, and household upkeep.
Lead researcher Kate Gawlik, an associate clinical professor at the Ohio State College of Nursing, emphasized the detrimental impact of the societal notion of ‘perfect parenting’. Gawlik noted that the pervasive influence of social media exacerbates these pressures, fostering unrealistic expectations for parents and their children alike. Drawing from her personal experiences as a working mother of four, Gawlik highlighted the prevalence of comparison and judgment among parents, which further compounds the burden of striving for perfection.
The study underscored the critical link between parental mental health and child well-being. Notably, parents grappling with mental health issues are more likely to experience burnout and resort to harmful behaviors towards their children, including verbal and physical abuse. Conversely, the quality time spent with parents emerged as a protective factor against children’s mental health issues, mitigating conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder.
In light of these findings, the study recommended several strategies for parents to enhance their connection with their children and promote positive mental health outcomes. These strategies include active listening, challenging and transforming negative thoughts into positive ones, adjusting expectations, and reflecting on priorities.
As the study underscores the perils of parental burnout and its ramifications for child well-being, it advocates for a reevaluation of societal expectations surrounding parenting and a concerted effort to support parents in fostering healthy environments for their children.
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