Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) in International Contexts

Abstract

Parental burnout is a syndrome characterized by an overwhelming exhaustion related to one’s parental role, emotional detachment, and a loss of pleasure and efficacy in one’s parental role. It is a serious condition that affects not only parents’ own health and spousal relationship but also the well-being of their children due to the increased risk of neglect and violence against one’s children. To identify parental burnout and assist at-risk parents worldwide, assessment tools that are valid and reliable across different cultural contexts and languages are crucial. The gold standard measure of parental burnout, the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA), is a 23-item questionnaire that assesses the four core dimensions of parental burnout: emotional exhaustion, emotional distancing, feelings of being fed up, and contrast with the previous parental self. The PBA was developed based on the testimonies of distressed parents, and it has been translated to and validated in at least 23 languages. This chapter first introduces the developmental process of PBA and then provides an overview of its psychometric properties in international contexts. The cross-cultural applicability of the PBA as well as the future research that is needed to identify cultural aspects and knowledge affecting the practical utility of the PBA in an international context are also discussed.