Speaker
Presentation in English
ISABELLE ROSKAM
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LEUVEN. BELGIUM
Isabelle Roskam is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Louvain in Belgium. Before devoting herself to the study of parental burnout, Isabelle directed the “H2M Children” research program on the development and care of so-called “difficult” children. At the same time, she worked for 10 years as a clinician at the Saint Luc University Clinics in Brussels, in the neuropediatric unit.
In 2015, Isabelle Roskam and Moïra Mikoljaczak combined their expertise and initiated a large research program to shed light on the nature, causes, consequences and treatment of parental burnout. They founded the IIPB, an international research consortium on parental burnout that now brings together 50 countries. With the collaboration of their team, the consortium and many researchers (and parents!) around the world, they have contributed to develop this field of research and published the results of their work in numerous scientific articles and books. They also co-direct the Training Institute for Psychology & Health and the Parental Burnout Research Lab, reference centers for parental burnout.
Understanding Parental Burnout: Significance and Implications
Parental burnout is a complex phenomenon that challenges the idyllic narrative of parenting as a source of joy and pride. It is characterized by profound exhaustion, emotional distancing from one’s children, and a loss of pleasure in parental roles. This presentation will delve into the intricacies of parental burnout, distinguishing it from typical parenting stress and exploring its prevalence, antecedents, and consequences. Recent empirical research has shown that approximately 5% of parents globally experience parental burnout, with prevalence rates varying significantly across cultural contexts and values.
Key risk factors include personal vulnerabilities, parenting styles, and family dynamics, while mediators such as parental self-discrepancy illuminate how cultural influences shape burnout experiences. The impact of parental burnout extends beyond the individual parent, with bidirectional effects on children’s behavior and family relationships, including increased risks of neglect and aggression. Evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies highlight the importance of early detection and compassionate support, emphasizing the rebalancing of stressors and resources. Central to these efforts is the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA), a validated tool that facilitates accurate diagnosis and guides effective treatment.
This keynote will underscore that while parental burnout is a significant challenge, it is both preventable and treatable, offering pathways to recovery and resilience for affected families through targeted psychological interventions.
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