Parental burnout and sexual life: exploring associations with sexual desire and distress
Delvenne, Justine
Parental burnout and sexual life: exploring associations with sexual desire and distress - 2025.
2
Introduction. Parental burnout is a chronic stress syndrome related to the parental role. Previous studies have shown that it can compromise both the health of affected parents and the quality of their couple relationship. To further investigate potential correlates of individual and couple well-being, this study explores the associations between parental burnout and two dimensions of sexual life: sexual desire and sexual distress. Methods. Scores for parental burnout, sexual desire and sexual distress were collected from a sample of 106 parents from the general population who were in a relationship and had children over 12 months of age. Correlational analyses and regressions were conducted to determine the existing associations between these three variables. Results. Parental burnout was correlated with sexual distress but not with sexual desire. Regarding sexual distress, parental burnout emerges as the strongest predictor compared to the collected personal, parental and relationship variables. Discussion. These findings suggest that parenting challenges may impact the parents’ sexual life beyond the perinatal period. Further studies should more deeply investigate this relationship to inform clinical practices in the fields of sexology and parental burnout.
Parental burnout and sexual life: exploring associations with sexual desire and distress - 2025.
2
Introduction. Parental burnout is a chronic stress syndrome related to the parental role. Previous studies have shown that it can compromise both the health of affected parents and the quality of their couple relationship. To further investigate potential correlates of individual and couple well-being, this study explores the associations between parental burnout and two dimensions of sexual life: sexual desire and sexual distress. Methods. Scores for parental burnout, sexual desire and sexual distress were collected from a sample of 106 parents from the general population who were in a relationship and had children over 12 months of age. Correlational analyses and regressions were conducted to determine the existing associations between these three variables. Results. Parental burnout was correlated with sexual distress but not with sexual desire. Regarding sexual distress, parental burnout emerges as the strongest predictor compared to the collected personal, parental and relationship variables. Discussion. These findings suggest that parenting challenges may impact the parents’ sexual life beyond the perinatal period. Further studies should more deeply investigate this relationship to inform clinical practices in the fields of sexology and parental burnout.
Réseaux sociaux