Parenting with chronic illness: Parental burnout is associated with higher HbA1c among mothers with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Parental burnout (PB) is a chronic stress condition characterized by exhaustion in the parental role, emotional distancing from one’s children, and a perceived loss of parental efficacy. Although psychological stress is known to impair glycemic regulation, the role of PB has not been examined in adults managing their own chronic illness. This study investigated whether mothers and fathers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience greater PB than healthy control parents and explored associations between PB and glycemic control. A total of 128 mothers and fathers aged 25–50 years participated, including 62 parents with T2DM and 66 control parents without chronic illness. Sociodemographic and clinical data (HbA1c, BMI, disease duration, treatment regimen) were collected, and all participants completed the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). Parents with T2DM reported higher PB scores across all dimensions and on the total scale compared with controls. Within the T2DM group, higher HbA1c levels were associated with greater emotional exhaustion. Gender-stratified analyses showed no difference between mothers and fathers. However, higher HbA1c levels were associated with multiple dimensions of PB among mothers with T2DM, whereas such associations were not observed in fathers. These findings suggest that PB may be an underrecognized psychosomatic stressor in T2DM, reflecting the interplay between parenting demands, chronic illness management, and health outcomes. Because of the cross-sectional design, the association between parental burnout and glycemic control may be bidirectional. Further research is warranted to explore mechanisms and to inform gender-sensitive psychosocial interventions in chronic illness care.