The Impact of Parental Burnout and Time with Children

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic added new challenges to families’ abilities to address their children’s needs. Through focus groups and interviews with parents/guardians from Boston, Massachusetts, we confirmed research that indicates that (1) the experiences and needs of families regarding their children are quite distinct in comparing those who work from home versus those who must return to their work sites and (2) there is an uneven distribution of work by gender within the home. We learned that the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced new fears into households and greater stresses related to work–life balance and that these stresses are amplified for families that have fewer access to important resources. This combination has produced new constraints and pressures on families and children. Through looking at how families now consider child care choices, we can see how these fears, stressors, and constraints contribute to home environments where parental burnout pervades and is worrisome when applied to children’s development. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Nazneen Khan;individual chapters, the contributors