Parents are exhausted during the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study from Ohio University (USA) has shown that 66% of working parents are in an alarming state of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a condition when chronic stress and exhaustion overwhelm parents’ ability to function and solve problems.

The study was based on a survey of 1,285 working parents to collect feedback from families in the US about the causes of the community’s health and time being seriously affected. According to this study, more and more parents are experiencing burnout during the pandemic.

Speaking more about this common condition, Kate Gawlik, an assistant professor of nursing at Ohio State University and co-author of the study, confirmed that she herself is experiencing a similar situation as a mother of four children. “Simply put, parent burnout is being overloaded with work while playing different roles 24/7. Above all, parents must be truly dedicated to their own needs. this role of mine,” she said.

In fact, burnout is not a medical condition. In 1019, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized burnout as a “syndrome” and an “occupational phenomenon” with possible health consequences. As noted by the American Psychological Association, although there are similarities, the consequences of parenting burnout are different from those of work burnout. This also means that working parents are at greater risk of severe burnout due to multiple stressors, both at work and at home.

“You want to be a great mother and father. You also want to do a good job at work. You also want to be a good partner. You want to have a clean house,” said Associate Professor Kate. Gawlik continued, “There’s so much ‘tossing’ on you and being in the middle of a pandemic that makes burnout inevitable.”

In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this burnout more common than ever for parents. The reason is that students are forced to stay at home, which also means that they will either have to stay at home to take care of their children, or hire someone to take care of them. However, not all families can afford this. In fact, in the midst of a pandemic, financial instability is also a common problem in families.

To effectively deal with this burnout, experts stress that acknowledging your burnout is key. Also in the study, the experts mentioned strategies for both parents and children, including taking time to “rest and recuperate” for 5 to 10 minutes a day to reduce stress. In addition, you should also talk to your loved one about your feelings.

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