Enhancing the understanding of parental burnout from an empirical and psychometric perspective

Abstract Background Parental burnout (PB) is a relatively new syndrome resulting from chronic parenting stress. Besides efforts to enhance scientific and public understanding of PB, little is known about its link to intimate partner violence (IPV), and the psychometrics of German measures for PB remain an under-researched topic. This study aims to address these gaps by 1) testing the interplay of PB, parenting, couple satisfaction, and IPV, 2) examining the psychometrics of the German version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). Methods Data were collected online as part of an international PB study including Austrian parents aged 18 or older with at least one child at home (0-18). Overall, N = 121 mothers from a community sample reported on family functioning, PB, couple quality and gender roles. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess the fit of the theoretical model. Furthermore, data from N = 220 Austrian and German parents on PB and familial variables during the Covid-19 pandemic were collected to analyze the psychometrics of the German PBA. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the validity of the PBA. Results SEM indicated a good model fit, χ^2(37) = 35.51, p = .54; CFI = 1.00; RMSEA = .00, (95% CI = .00 -.06). Furthermore, an indirect effect of couple satisfaction on the link between IPV to PB and IPV to parenting was found. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence for the importance of couples’ relationship satisfaction in understanding links between IPV and PB as well as parenting in German-speaking mothers. On the basis of these findings, future public health efforts may be organized to focus on preventing PB indirectly or directly by targeting couples’ relationship. Additionally, psychometric results of this study can inform researchers and practitioners about the applicability of the German PBA, improving screening of at-risk parents, and offering support for parents at early stages. Key messages Our findings underscore the importance of couples’ relationships for understanding parental burnout in German-speaking parents. Valid and reliable assessment of parental burnout can support the screening of at-risk parents at early stages.

As COVID swept through Europe, and the world, with high rates of illness and death, so did symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and psychological distress. This study examines the relationship between gender and psychological distress among Latvians over 50 years old within the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from Wave 8 COVID-19 data of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) as an early data version of the SHARE Corona survey conducted between June and August 2020. It features the data collected by telephone (CATI) on topics related to COVID-19 for a large sub-sample of SHARE panel respondents. This study examined a sample of 980 adults over 50 years old in Latvia. Bivariate analysis were performed utilizing the Pearson chi-square test for association to examine differences in symptoms of psychological distress by gender during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Level of significance was determined by the p-value test statistic. Alpha level was established at .05. A chi-square test for association shows that there were statistically relationships between gender and feeling nervous (X2 (2, N = 976) = 22.11, p < .001), feeling depressed (X2 (3, N = 976) = 10.95, p < .01), and trouble sleeping (X2 (2, N = 976) = 20.40, p < .001). This study rejects the null hypothesis that no differences exist between the genders, as women reported greater psychological distress during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional multimethod analysis is consistent with these findings and concludes that this is due to the greater concern women report for family, and the burden which placed limitations on meeting their children and grandchildren. Key messages: Gender differences exist in experiences of psychological distress during the early COVID-19 pandemic among the aging population in Latvia.
With the high rates of illness and death associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, so were symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, and psychological distress.

Background:
Parental burnout (PB) is a relatively new syndrome resulting from chronic parenting stress. Besides efforts to enhance scientific and public understanding of PB, little is known about its link to intimate partner violence (IPV), and the psychometrics of German measures for PB remain an underresearched topic. This study aims to address these gaps by 1) testing the interplay of PB, parenting, couple satisfaction, and IPV, 2) examining the psychometrics of the German version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA).

Methods:
Data were collected online as part of an international PB study including Austrian parents aged 18 or older with at least one child at home (0-18). Overall, N = 121 mothers from a community sample reported on family functioning, PB, couple quality and gender roles. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess the fit of the theoretical model. Furthermore, data from N = 220 Austrian and German parents on PB and familial variables during the Covid-19 pandemic were collected to analyze the psychometrics of the German PBA. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the validity of the PBA.

Conclusions:
This study provides preliminary evidence for the importance of couples' relationship satisfaction in understanding links between IPV and PB as well as parenting in German-speaking mothers. On the basis of these findings, future public health efforts may be organized to focus on preventing PB indirectly or directly by targeting couples' relationship. Additionally, psychometric results of this study can inform researchers and practitioners about the applicability of the German PBA, improving screening of at-risk parents, and offering support for parents at early stages.

Background:
Mental ill health is the leading cause of sickness absence with high economic burden. Workplace interventions aimed at supporting employers with prevention of mental ill-health in the workforce are urgently required. Managing Minds at Work (MMW) is a digital intervention targeting support for line managers in any work setting to promote better mental health at work through a preventative approach.

Objectives:
To describe the design and development of the MMW digital training programme, prior to feasibility testing. We adopted a collaborative participatory design involving co-design (users as partners) and principles of user-centred design (pilot and usability testing). Agile methodology was used to co-create intervention content with a stakeholder community of practice. Development processes were mapped to core elements of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions.

Results:
The program covers five broad areas: (i) promoting self-care techniques among line managers; (ii) designing work to prevent work-related stress; (iii) management competencies to prevent and reduce stress; (iv) having conversations with employees about mental health; (v) building a psychologically safe work environment. Pilot and usability testing (n = 37 surveys) aligned with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) demonstrated that MMW was perceived to be useful, relevant, and easy to use by managers across sectors, organization types and sizes. We identified positive impacts on manager attitudes and behavioural intentions related to preventing mental ill-health and promoting good mental wellbeing at work.

Conclusions:
MMW is a digital training programme for line managers that has been co-created using rigorous development processes and aims to support employers with primary prevention in mental health. The next step is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention with line managers in diverse employment settings.

Key messages:
We used co-creation and participatory design to create Managing Minds at Work -a new digital intervention to support line managers in preventing mental ill-health at work. The next step is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention with line managers in diverse employment settings.

Background:
Common mental disorders count for a large percentage of sick leave cases in Europe and in Sweden. Problem-solving with workplace involvement have shown promising results in reducing the number of sick leave days for employees on sick leave for these conditions. Engaging the workplace by for example including the first-line manager in the return-to-work process changes the usual role of the primary care. Hence, this study aims to explore ethical issues that potentially arise when introducing workplace involvement as part of a problemsolving intervention.

Methods:
A qualitative study in the Swedish Primary Care using data from semi-structured interviews with rehabilitation coordinators (n = 6), employees on sick leave for common mental disorders (n = 13), and their first-line managers (n = 8). A theoretical framework for systematic identification of ethical aspects of healthcare technologies was used to guide the interviews and reporting of results. Content analysis was used to code the data, searching for latent content. Ethical issues related to the ethical values privacy, identity, autonomy, professional values, third party, equality and justice were identified and described. The analysis was concluded by a normative discussion.

Results:
Ethical issues were identified such as difficulties for the employees to control personal information. A need to create an integrated role of a patient and an employee and for coordinators to act neutral instead of as a patient advocate. Managers needed to balance the needs of the organization with the needs of the employee. A pre-requisite for participation was agreeing to manager involvement which may affect the equality of the intervention.

Conclusions:
A conversation about sharing of information, roles, responsibilities and expectations during the rehabilitation should be initiated early and be continuous. Managers need support in learning the ''how to'' when having an employee on sick leave due to a common mental disorder. Key messages: The problem-solving intervention imposed ethical issues in regard to control over personal information and role shifting, which can be handled through discussions and awareness. By analysing ethical aspects and norms and values connected to the intervention, adaptations and solutions can be discussed and handled before full scale implementation.
15th European Public Health Conference 2022