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From Caring to Collapsing: A Qualitative Exploration of Parental Burnout in Mothers of Children on the Autism Spectrum.

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Title: From Caring to Collapsing: A Qualitative Exploration of Parental Burnout in Mothers of Children on the Autism Spectrum.
Authors: Desimpelaere, Eline N. (AUTHOR), Verreu, Dora (AUTHOR), Ortibus, Els (AUTHOR), Soenens, Bart (AUTHOR), Prinzie, Peter (AUTHOR), De Pauw, Sarah S.W. (AUTHOR)
Source: Exceptional Children. Jul2026, Vol. 92 Issue 4, p502-523. 22p.
Subjects: Autism spectrum disorders, Mothers, Burden of care, Social support, Psychological disengagement, Qualitative research, Psychological stress, Parenting
Abstract: Parental burnout (PB)—a condition characterized by intense exhaustion in the parental role, emotional distancing from one's children, feeling fed up with parenting, and contrast with the previous parental self—has gained increasing attention, predominantly among parents of neurotypical children. Research on PB in parents of children with complex care needs, such as children on the autism spectrum, is comparatively limited, despite indications of elevated PB levels in this population. This qualitative study aims to deepen the understanding of PB in mothers raising children on the autism spectrum by (1) examining the imbalance of stressors over resources mothers encounter before PB, (2) identifying the factors that push them over the edge into PB, and (3) exploring their lived experiences of PB. Fifteen mothers of children on the autism spectrum (aged 6 to 16 years) who experienced PB participated in a semi-structured interview. The thematic analysis revealed major stressors, including the child's challenging behaviors, the mother's perceived irreplaceability, the struggle to balance multiple roles, and inadequate social support. Although mothers shifted perspectives and found relief in activities beyond parenting, this proved insufficient to offset their overwhelming stress. This imbalance, compounded by loss of control, feelings of entrapment, and absence of a lifeline, culminated in PB. Interestingly, in the manifestation of PB, emotional distancing was less pronounced, and feeling fed up with parenting was closely tied to feelings of "living loss". This study enhances the understanding of PB in mothers raising children on the autism spectrum and paves the way toward more tailored parent support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Exceptional Children is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: From Caring to Collapsing: A Qualitative Exploration of Parental Burnout in Mothers of Children on the Autism Spectrum.
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  Data: Parental burnout (PB)—a condition characterized by intense exhaustion in the parental role, emotional distancing from one's children, feeling fed up with parenting, and contrast with the previous parental self—has gained increasing attention, predominantly among parents of neurotypical children. Research on PB in parents of children with complex care needs, such as children on the autism spectrum, is comparatively limited, despite indications of elevated PB levels in this population. This qualitative study aims to deepen the understanding of PB in mothers raising children on the autism spectrum by (1) examining the imbalance of stressors over resources mothers encounter before PB, (2) identifying the factors that push them over the edge into PB, and (3) exploring their lived experiences of PB. Fifteen mothers of children on the autism spectrum (aged 6 to 16 years) who experienced PB participated in a semi-structured interview. The thematic analysis revealed major stressors, including the child's challenging behaviors, the mother's perceived irreplaceability, the struggle to balance multiple roles, and inadequate social support. Although mothers shifted perspectives and found relief in activities beyond parenting, this proved insufficient to offset their overwhelming stress. This imbalance, compounded by loss of control, feelings of entrapment, and absence of a lifeline, culminated in PB. Interestingly, in the manifestation of PB, emotional distancing was less pronounced, and feeling fed up with parenting was closely tied to feelings of "living loss". This study enhances the understanding of PB in mothers raising children on the autism spectrum and paves the way toward more tailored parent support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Exceptional Children is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Type: general
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      – SubjectFull: Burden of care
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      – SubjectFull: Social support
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              Text: Jul2026
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