Unpacking the daily dynamics of parenting strain: A 15-day diary study of caregiving role overload, depressive symptoms, and parental burnout among parents of autistic children.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the day-to-day dynamics between daily caregiving role overload and daily depressive symptoms among parents of autistic children, and to examine gender differences in these variables' average levels and day-to-day dynamics, as well as whether such differences help explain parental burnout.

METHODS

We recruited parents of autistic children from autism intervention centers using convenience sampling (N = 210; 81.9% mothers) in mainland China. Parents completed a brief online diary survey each evening across 15 weekdays over three consecutive weeks to assess daily depressive symptoms and daily caregiving role overload. After the diary period, parents completed a post-diary questionnaire assessing parental burnout. Data were analyzed using dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM).

RESULTS

(1) At the within-person level, daily caregiving role overload and daily depressive symptoms showed reciprocal cross-day associations, forming a day-to-day feedback loop. (2) At the between-person level, mothers reported higher person-mean depressive symptoms than fathers, which in turn predicted higher parental burnout. (3) At the between-person level, mothers exhibited stronger day-to-day carryover of depressive symptoms than fathers, which in turn predicted higher parental burnout.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings clarify processes through which parenting-related stressors contribute to day-to-day resource depletion and suggest gender-specific pathways and dynamic patterns in the development of parental burnout among mothers and fathers. These results have important implications for promoting parents' mental health in families with high caregiving demands by informing early, sustained, and parent-tailored daily support to prevent resource depletion and reduce parental burnout.