A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions

Urbanowicz, Agata M; Verger, Nicolas B; Shankland, Rebecca; Rance, Jaynie; Bennett, Paul; Gauchet, Aurélie

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.121022

Journal article 60 views

A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions

Agata M Urbanowicz, Nicolas B Verger, Rebecca Shankland, Jaynie Rance

, Paul Bennett, Aurélie Gauchet

Journal of Affective Disorders, Start page: 121022

Swansea University Authors: Jaynie Rance , Paul Bennett

Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jad.2025.121022

Abstract

Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological and educational interventions for parental burnout, assess the durability of intervention effects, examine potential moderators, and identify shared intervention components. Methods: Fifteen studies comprising 18 interv...

Full description

Published in:	Journal of Affective Disorders
ISSN:	0165-0327 1573-2517
Published:	Elsevier BV 2025
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71202

first_indexed	2026-01-07T15:31:49Z
last_indexed	2026-01-08T05:22:11Z
id	cronfa71202
recordtype	SURis
fullrecord	<?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2026-01-07T15:31:47.7290943</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>71202</id><entry>2026-01-07</entry><title>A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>14360f4993b452995fbc22db857cabf7</sid><ORCID>0000-0002-9504-0675</ORCID><firstname>Jaynie</firstname><surname>Rance</surname><name>Jaynie Rance</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author><author><sid>20803717bf274c582f30f80916c596d3</sid><firstname>Paul</firstname><surname>Bennett</surname><name>Paul Bennett</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2026-01-07</date><deptcode>PSYS</deptcode><abstract>Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological and educational interventions for parental burnout, assess the durability of intervention effects, examine potential moderators, and identify shared intervention components. Methods: Fifteen studies comprising 18 intervention arms (total N = 1380), including 12 randomised controlled trial arms (n = 804), were synthesised using Hedges' g under random-effects models. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and potential moderators (intervention type, population, and programme duration) were examined using meta-regression analyses. Main results: Randomised controlled trials produced moderate-to-large reductions in parental burnout compared with control conditions, with effects maintained for up to three months following intervention. Effects were consistent across populations (general samples and parents of children with chronic conditions) and intervention approaches (cognitive–behavioural, mindfulness- and acceptance-based, educational, and resources–balance). Moderate heterogeneity was observed. Meta-regression analyses indicated no significant moderation by intervention type or population. Programme duration, defined as total intervention length in weeks, emerged as a tentative moderator, with six-week programmes associated with larger reductions in parental burnout, whereas other durations were not significantly associated with outcomes. This finding remains exploratory. Analyses of small-study effects and publication bias did not alter conclusions. Five components were consistently identified across interventions: psychoeducation; self-regulation and stress management; values and identity work; experiential practice; and relational awareness. Implications: Psychological and educational interventions effectively reduce parental burnout, with benefits sustained over time. Focusing on shared core components rather than specific modalities may support intervention development, while future trials should clarify optimal intervention duration and remaining sources of heterogeneity. Prospero registration ID CRD42021231247 Open science framework https://osf.io/3g67n/?view_only=8db62532d857478baef1a27ed916e0e6</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Journal of Affective Disorders</journal><volume>0</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>121022</paginationStart><paginationEnd/><publisher>Elsevier BV</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>0165-0327</issnPrint><issnElectronic>1573-2517</issnElectronic><keywords>Systematic review; Meta-analysis; Parental burnout interventions; Parental burnout treatment</keywords><publishedDay>22</publishedDay><publishedMonth>12</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-12-22</publishedDate><doi>10.1016/j.jad.2025.121022</doi><url/><notes>Review Article</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Psychology School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>PSYS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Another institution paid the OA fee</apcterm><funders>This work was supported by the Communauté Université Grenoble Alpes for the project IDEX Parent-Prev 2018.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2026-01-07T15:31:47.7290943</lastEdited><Created>2026-01-07T15:24:22.7546606</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences</level><level id="2">School of Psychology</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Agata M</firstname><surname>Urbanowicz</surname><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Nicolas B</firstname><surname>Verger</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Rebecca</firstname><surname>Shankland</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Jaynie</firstname><surname>Rance</surname><orcid>0000-0002-9504-0675</orcid><order>4</order></author><author><firstname>Paul</firstname><surname>Bennett</surname><order>5</order></author><author><firstname>Aurélie</firstname><surname>Gauchet</surname><order>6</order></author></authors><documents/><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling	2026-01-07T15:31:47.7290943 v2 71202 2026-01-07 A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions 14360f4993b452995fbc22db857cabf7 0000-0002-9504-0675 Jaynie Rance Jaynie Rance true false 20803717bf274c582f30f80916c596d3 Paul Bennett Paul Bennett true false 2026-01-07 PSYS Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological and educational interventions for parental burnout, assess the durability of intervention effects, examine potential moderators, and identify shared intervention components. Methods: Fifteen studies comprising 18 intervention arms (total N = 1380), including 12 randomised controlled trial arms (n = 804), were synthesised using Hedges' g under random-effects models. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and potential moderators (intervention type, population, and programme duration) were examined using meta-regression analyses. Main results: Randomised controlled trials produced moderate-to-large reductions in parental burnout compared with control conditions, with effects maintained for up to three months following intervention. Effects were consistent across populations (general samples and parents of children with chronic conditions) and intervention approaches (cognitive–behavioural, mindfulness- and acceptance-based, educational, and resources–balance). Moderate heterogeneity was observed. Meta-regression analyses indicated no significant moderation by intervention type or population. Programme duration, defined as total intervention length in weeks, emerged as a tentative moderator, with six-week programmes associated with larger reductions in parental burnout, whereas other durations were not significantly associated with outcomes. This finding remains exploratory. Analyses of small-study effects and publication bias did not alter conclusions. Five components were consistently identified across interventions: psychoeducation; self-regulation and stress management; values and identity work; experiential practice; and relational awareness. Implications: Psychological and educational interventions effectively reduce parental burnout, with benefits sustained over time. Focusing on shared core components rather than specific modalities may support intervention development, while future trials should clarify optimal intervention duration and remaining sources of heterogeneity. Prospero registration ID CRD42021231247 Open science framework https://osf.io/3g67n/?view_only=8db62532d857478baef1a27ed916e0e6 Journal Article Journal of Affective Disorders 0 121022 Elsevier BV 0165-0327 1573-2517 Systematic review; Meta-analysis; Parental burnout interventions; Parental burnout treatment 22 12 2025 2025-12-22 10.1016/j.jad.2025.121022 Review Article COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee This work was supported by the Communauté Université Grenoble Alpes for the project IDEX Parent-Prev 2018. 2026-01-07T15:31:47.7290943 2026-01-07T15:24:22.7546606 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Agata M Urbanowicz 1 Nicolas B Verger 2 Rebecca Shankland 3 Jaynie Rance 0000-0002-9504-0675 4 Paul Bennett 5 Aurélie Gauchet 6
title	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions
spellingShingle	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions Jaynie Rance Paul Bennett
title_short	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions
title_full	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions
title_fullStr	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions
title_full_unstemmed	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions
title_sort	A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions
author_id_str_mv	14360f4993b452995fbc22db857cabf7 20803717bf274c582f30f80916c596d3
author_id_fullname_str_mv	14360f4993b452995fbc22db857cabf7_*_Jaynie Rance 20803717bf274c582f30f80916c596d3_*_Paul Bennett
author	Jaynie Rance Paul Bennett
author2	Agata M Urbanowicz Nicolas B Verger Rebecca Shankland Jaynie Rance Paul Bennett Aurélie Gauchet
format	Journal article
container_title	Journal of Affective Disorders
container_volume	0
container_start_page	121022
publishDate	2025
institution	Swansea University
issn	0165-0327 1573-2517
doi_str_mv	10.1016/j.jad.2025.121022
publisher	Elsevier BV
college_str	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id	facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id	facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title	Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str	School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str	0
active_str	0
description	Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological and educational interventions for parental burnout, assess the durability of intervention effects, examine potential moderators, and identify shared intervention components. Methods: Fifteen studies comprising 18 intervention arms (total N = 1380), including 12 randomised controlled trial arms (n = 804), were synthesised using Hedges' g under random-effects models. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and potential moderators (intervention type, population, and programme duration) were examined using meta-regression analyses. Main results: Randomised controlled trials produced moderate-to-large reductions in parental burnout compared with control conditions, with effects maintained for up to three months following intervention. Effects were consistent across populations (general samples and parents of children with chronic conditions) and intervention approaches (cognitive–behavioural, mindfulness- and acceptance-based, educational, and resources–balance). Moderate heterogeneity was observed. Meta-regression analyses indicated no significant moderation by intervention type or population. Programme duration, defined as total intervention length in weeks, emerged as a tentative moderator, with six-week programmes associated with larger reductions in parental burnout, whereas other durations were not significantly associated with outcomes. This finding remains exploratory. Analyses of small-study effects and publication bias did not alter conclusions. Five components were consistently identified across interventions: psychoeducation; self-regulation and stress management; values and identity work; experiential practice; and relational awareness. Implications: Psychological and educational interventions effectively reduce parental burnout, with benefits sustained over time. Focusing on shared core components rather than specific modalities may support intervention development, while future trials should clarify optimal intervention duration and remaining sources of heterogeneity. Prospero registration ID CRD42021231247 Open science framework https://osf.io/3g67n/?view_only=8db62532d857478baef1a27ed916e0e6
published_date	2025-12-22T05:34:50Z
_version_	1856896490179395584
score	11.096068

A meta-analysis of parental burnout interventions

Similar Items