Examining the effects of positive and negative perfectionism and maternal burnout

Abstract

Previous studies explored the relationship between negative perfectionism and parental burnout, but the impact of positive perfectionism on parental burnout remains largely unknown. This study examined the effects of positive and negative perfectionism on mothers' parental burnout, the mediating roles of parenting stress, and the moderating roles of fathers' co-parenting behavior. We collected data at three different time points and administered questionnaires to 507 mothers of adolescents. At Time 1, mothers reported their perfectionism and paternal co-parenting behavior. At Time 2, mothers reported parenting stress. At Time 3, mothers reported parental burnout. We found that parental burnout was positively correlated with negative perfectionism and negatively correlated with positive perfectionism. The above relationships were mediated by parenting stress. Paternal co-parenting behavior moderated the relationship between negative perfectionism and parenting stress. Mothers should be made aware of the different effects of positive perfectionism and negative perfectionism on parental burnout. Communication with their spouses regarding parenting behavior should be enhanced, while mothers' access to practical external resources against parental burnout should be facilitated.