Depression, anxiety, and guilt in mothers with burnout of preschool and school-aged children: Insight from a cluster analysis

Abstract Introduction The primary objective of this study is to identify the typology of exhausted mothers based on, depressive, anxiety, and guilt symptoms. And, secondarily, evaluate whether these profiles differ on parental stress, environmental stress, and parental burnout. Methods Five hundred and fifty French-speaking mothers suffering from exhaustion completed several questionnaires assessing parental stress, general perceived stress, maternal guilt, and depressive and anxious symptomology. Results from two hundred and ten mothers with burnout symptoms were explored (mean age [SD] = 33.69 [5.1] years). In order to identify possible subgroups, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Results Three profiles were highlighted from the sample (Wilks’ λ = 0.156, p Discussion These findings suggest different profiles of burned out mothers that vary according to severity of anxiety, depression, and guilt. That suggests that parental burnout, depression and anxiety are distinct disorders. This study also makes it possible to show the aggravating effect of guilt in the experience of burnout. Additional research is warranted as it is important to more carefully consider possible appropriate intervention strategies given the differing experiences of burned out mothers.