Depression, anxiety, and guilt in mothers with burnout of preschool and school-aged children: Insight from a cluster analysis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION\nThe primary objective of this study is to identify the typology of exhausted mothers based on, depressive, anxiety, and guilt symptoms. And, secondarily, evaluate whether these profiles differ on parental stress, environmental stress, and parental burnout.\n\n\nMETHODS\nFive hundred and fifty French-speaking mothers suffering from exhaustion completed several questionnaires assessing parental stress, general perceived stress, maternal guilt, and depressive and anxious symptomology. Results from two hundred and ten mothers with burnout symptoms were explored (mean age [SD]\xa0=\xa033.69 [5.1] years). In order to identify possible subgroups, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThree profiles were highlighted from the sample (Wilks λ\xa0=\xa00.156, p\xa0<\xa0.0001): the first was characterized by high feelings of guilt (29.52%; n\xa0=\xa062), the second showed a dominance of anxiety symptoms and high feelings of guilt (36.19%; n\xa0=\xa076), and the fourth presented low levels of depression, anxiety, and feelings of guilt (23.3%, n\xa0=\xa049).\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nThese findings suggest different profiles of burned out mothers that vary according to severity of anxiety, depression, and guilt. That suggests that parental burnout, depression and anxiety are distinct disorders. This study also makes it possible to show the aggravating effect of guilt in the experience of burnout. Additional research is warranted as it is important to more carefully consider possible appropriate intervention strategies given the differing experiences of burned out mothers.