Psychological Resilience as a Predictor of Burnout Levels in Parents of Children with Special Needs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61518/ijpw-154Keywords:
Parent, Psychological Resilience, BurnoutAbstract
This study investigates the relationship between psychological resilience and burnout among parents of children attending special education institutions. Prolonged stress in these parents often leads to burnout and depression, adversely affecting both parental well-being and child outcomes. The research involved 155 participants (103 mothers, 52 fathers), who completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Psychological Resilience Scale (PRS). The analysis focused on how resilience subdimensions self-perception, social competence, structural style, family cohesion, future perception, and social resources predict burnout components: emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Results revealed that psychological resilience subdimensions collectively accounted for 15% of the variance in emotional exhaustion (R² = .146, p<.01), with social resources emerging as the sole significant individual predictor (p<.01). For depersonalization, resilience subdimensions explained 30% of the variance (R² = .298, p < .001), with structural style, family cohesion, social competence, and social resources serving as significant predictors (p<.05 to p< .001). These findings underscore psychological resilience as a protective factor against burnout, particularly highlighting the role of social resources in mitigating emotional exhaustion and multiple resilience components in reducing depersonalization. The study aligns with existing literature, emphasizing that enhancing parents’ resilience especially through strengthening social networks, family cohesion, and adaptive coping strategies can buffer against burnout. Interventions targeting these resilience factors may improve parental mental health, thereby fostering more supportive environments for children with special needs. These insights advocate for integrating resilience-building programs into support systems for families in special education contexts, addressing both individual and relational dimensions of well-being.
References
Avcanok, M., Nuri, C., Bağlama, B., & Ruştioğlu, O. (2025). Investigation of distress tolerance levels of parents of
children with special needs. EKEV Akademy Journal, (101), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.17753/sosekev.1455947
Benson, P. R., & Karlof, K. L. (2009). Anger, stress proliferation and depressed mood among parent of children with ASD: A longitudinal replication. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder, 39, 350-362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0632-0
Bitmiş, M. G., Sökmen, A., & Turgut, H. (2013). The effect of resilence on burnout: the mediating role of organizational identification. Gazi University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Journal, 15 (2), 27-40.
Buonomo, I., Santoro, P. E., Benevene, P., Borrelli, I., Angelini, G., Fiorilli, C., ... & Moscato, U. (2022). Buffering the effects of burnout on healthcare professionals’ health-the mediating role of compassionate relationships at work in the COVID era. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 8966. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158966
Campbell-Sills, L., Cohan, S. L., & Stein, M. B. (2006). Relationship of resilience to personality, coping, and psychiatric symptoms in young adults. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(4), 585-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2005.05.001
Chen, S., & Bonanno, G. A. (2020). Psychological adjustment during the global outbreak of COVID-19: A resilience perspective. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(1), 51. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000685
Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.10113
Dimala, C. P., Rahman, P. R. U., Tourniawan, I., & Ramadan, R. (2024). Stress and burnout for parents of children with special needs: A review from resilience and social support. Revista iberoamericana de psicología del ejercicio y el deporte, 19(1), 25-30.
Duygun, T., & Sezgin, N. (2003). The effects of stress symptoms, coping styles and perceived social support on burnout level of mentally handicapped and healthy children's mothers. Turk Psikoloji Dergisi, 18(52).
Fletcher, D., & Sarkar, M. (2013). Psychological resilience: A review and critique of definitions, concepts, and theory. European Psychologist, 18(1), 12–23. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000124
Fraenkel, J.R., & Wallen, N.E. (2009). How to design and evaluate research in education (Seventh ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Friborg, O., Barlaug, D. Martinussen, M., Rosenvinge, J. H., ve Hjemdal, O. (2005). Resilience in relation to perfonality and intelligence. Psychiatric Research, 14 (1), 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.15
Güler, G., Bedel, A., & Çelik, S. (2022). Burnout in parents of children with special needs: The role of family stress, family life satisfaction and family functionality. Western Anatolia Journal of EducationalSciences, 13(1), 274-292. https://doi.org/10.51460/baebd.1032785
Hubert, S., & Aujoulat, I. (2018). Parental burnout: When exhausted mothers open up. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01021
Hunter, A. J. (2001). A cross-cultural comparison of resilience in adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 16, 172-179. https://doi.org/10.1053/jpdn.2001.24180
Karasar, N. (2005). Scientific research method. Ankara: Nobel Publishing Distribution.
Kaytez, N., Durualp, E., & Kadan, G. (2015). Evaluation of requirements and stress levels of the families having disabled child. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching, 4(1), 197-214. http://jret.org/FileUpload/ks281142/File/19a.kaytez.pdf
Kurban, M. (2019). Examination of Life Quality and Burnout Level of Parents with Children Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Development. (Master's thesis, Haliç University)
Lee, J. H., Nam, S. K., Kim, A. R., Kim, B., Lee, M. Y., & Lee, S. M. (2020). Resilience: A meta-analytic approach. Journal of Counseling & Development, 91(3), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2013.00095.x
Liu, X., & Wang, Y. (2022). Resilience training program to improve stress management in parents of children with special needs: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 62, e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.10.012
Luthans, F. (2002). The need for and meaning of positive organizational behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23 (6), 695-706. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.165
Maslach, C., & Jackson, S. E. (1981). The measurement of experienced burnout. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 2(2), 99–113. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.4030020205
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2008). Early Predictors of Job Burnout and Engagement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(3), 498-512. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0021-9010.93.3.498
Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B. & Leiter, M. P.(2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397-422.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397
Masten, A. S. (2018). Resilience theory and research on children and families: Past, present, and promise. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(1), 12-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12255
Norlin, D., & Broberg, M. (2013). Parents of children with and without intellectual disability: Couple relationship and individual well-being. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(6), 552-566. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01564.x
Nuri, C. (2019). The Strengtheıng Effect of Support Education Programme on Parents Who Have Children Diagnosed With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Near East University.
Nuri, C., Karabıyık, V., & Akün, B. (2022). Investigation of the burnout level of the parents whose children continue the inclusive class according to different variables. EUL Journal of Social Sciences, 13(2), 122-137. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED625697.pdf
Nuri, C., Karabıyık, V., & Akün, B. (2022). Çocuğu kaynaştırma sınıfına devam eden ebeveynlerin tükenmişlik düzeylerinin farklı değişkenlere göre incelenmesi. Lefke Avrupa Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 13(2), 122-137. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/2859531
Ozbay, F., Johnson, D. C., Dimoulas, E., Morgan, C. A., Charney, D., & Southwick, S. (2007). Social support and resilience to stress: From neurobiology to clinical practice. Psychiatry, 4(5), 35-40. PMCID: PMC2921311 PMID: 20806028
Pelsma, D. M., Roland, B., Tollefson, N., & Wigington, H. (1989). Parent burnout: Validation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory with a sample of mothers. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 22(2), 81-87.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.1989.12022915
Sadziak, A., Wilinski, W., & Wieczorek, M. (2019). Parental burnout as a health determinant in mothers raising disabled children. Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity, 11(3), 8. https://doi.org/10.29359/BJHPA.11.3.08
Salsabila, N. D., & Adrian, Y. (2025). Emotional intelligence and family support in parents' acceptance of children with special needs. Nusantara Journal of Behavioral and Social Science, 4(1), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.47679/njbss.202576
Silva, R. R., Menezes, R. C., Garcia, S. L., Pustilnik, H. N., Ferreira, I. B., Aguiar, K. V., ... & Andrade, B. B. (2023). Assessment of the risk of burnout and its associated factors in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1058417. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1058417
Smith, B. W., & Jones, J. (2018). Social resources, resilience, and personal achievement in young adults. Journal of Applied Psychology, 103(4), 456–468. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/apl0000287
Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: Interdisciplinary perspectives. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 25338. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.25338
Temel, M. (2015). A Research on Burnout and Psychological Resilience of The Families with Disabled Children and Families with Unimpeded Children (Master's thesis, Beykent University).
Thompson, R. A., Flood, M. F., & Goodvin, R. (2019). Social support and resilience in parents of children with special needs. In M. R. Sanders & A. Morawska (Eds.), Handbook of Parenting and Child Development Across the Lifespan (pp. 567-585). Springer.
Ungar, M. (Ed.). (2021). Multisystemic resilience: Adaptation and transformation in contexts of change. Oxford University Press.
UNICEF. (2021). According to UNICEF's comprehensive statistical analysis, there are approximately 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. https://www.unicef.org/turkiye/bas%C4%B1n-b%C3%BCltenleri/unicefin-kapsaml%C4%B1-istatistiksel-analizine-g%C3%B6re-d%C3%BCnya-%C3%A7ap%C4%B1nda-yakla%C5%9F%C4%B1k-240-milyon
World Health Organization, & United Nations Children's Fund. (2023). Global report on children with developmental disabilities: from the margins to the mainstream. World Health Organization.
Zambrano-Chumo, L., & Guevara, R. (2024). Psychological capital and turnover intention: the mediating role of burnout among healthcare professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(2), 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020185
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Cahit Nuri, Emine Özel, Kadriye Yıldız
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
