A1 Journal article (refereed)
Development and validation of the Brief Parental Burnout Scale (BPBS) (2021)

Aunola, K., Sorkkila, M., Tolvanen, A., Tassoul, A., Mikolajczak, M., & Roskam, I. (2021). Development and validation of the Brief Parental Burnout Scale (BPBS). Psychological Assessment, 33(11), 1125-1137. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001064

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Aunola, Kaisa; Sorkkila, Matilda; Tolvanen, Asko; Tassoul, Alexandra; Mikolajczak, Moïra; Roskam, Isabelle

Journal or series: Psychological Assessment

ISSN: 1040-3590

eISSN: 1939-134X

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 13/09/2021

Volume: 33

Issue number: 11

Pages range: 1125-1137

Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001064

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78385

Abstract

Since parental burnout can have detrimental consequences for parents, couples, and children, easy-to-use, reliable, and valid practical tools for the early detection of parental burnout are required. We developed and validated a brief scale to identify burned-out parents and parents at burnout risk. In Study 1, we developed the 5-item Brief Parental Burnout scale (BPBs) based on the gold standard measure of parental burnout, the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). We applied Item Response Theory Graded Response Model (GRM) analyses on the data of 1,725 Finnish parents. Compared against the PBA total score, the five selected items showed both high sensitivity and specificity in screening parental burnout. As expected, burned-out parents and those at burnout risk according to the BPBs displayed higher depressive symptoms, lower self-esteem, and more frequent sleep disruptions than non-burned-out parents. In Study 2, we tested the sensitivity and specificity of the BPBs by using both the BPBs and the PBA as independent assessment tools in a sample of 1,088 Finnish parents. In Study 3, the high sensitivity and specificity of the BPBs found in Study 2 were replicated in an independent sample of 104 Belgian parents. We further demonstrated the concurrent validity of the BPBs test score interpretations by showing that burned-out parents, or those at burnout risk, reported higher child neglect and parental violence than non-burned-out parents. Because of its user-friendliness and the strong psychometric properties of its test score, the BPBs is a good candidate to use as a screening tool for parental burnout. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Keywords: parents; parenthood; parent-child relationship; managing; exhaustion; mental well-being; stress (biological phenomena); fatigue (biological phenomena); depression (mental disorders); children (age groups); neglect; violence (activity); risk factors; measurement; measuring methods

Free keywords: exhaustion; parenting; screening tool; sensitivity, specificity; Brief Parental Burnout scale (BPBs); Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA);

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 2