Caregiving Burden, Parental Burnout, and Mental Health in Families of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Abstract

Caring for a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder often involves long-term emotional, physical, and organizational demands. Parents must manage their daily routines, medical appointments, and therapy programs, while coping with uncertainty and ongoing stress. Over time, this sustained pressure can increase the risk of parental burnout and depressive symptoms, particularly when family and systemic support are limited. he present study aimed to examine the relationships between caregiving burden, parental burnout, and depressive symptoms among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, we explored the role of family quality of life, access to healthcare services, and family support, and tested whether family support moderates the association between parental burnout and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders who completed an online questionnaire. The survey included sociodemographic and clinical data, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests), Spearman correlations, and moderation analysis using the PROCESS macro. Parental burnout showed a strong and consistent association with depressive symptoms; higher caregiving demands —such as greater difficulty managing daily routines, greater severity of the child’s condition, and more frequent therapy sessions —which were associated with increased burnout and depression, as well as lower family quality of life; satisfaction with access to healthcare services was negatively associated with both burnout and depressive symptoms. Family quality of life emerged as a protective factor, with lower emotional distress reported in families with better relational functioning. Moderation analysis indicated that family support weakened the relationship between parental burnout and depression, particularly among parents reporting low levels of support. Parental burnout emerged as a central factor associated with depressive symptoms among parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Greater difficulty managing daily routines, higher therapy frequency, and poorer family quality of life were associated with increased emotional distress; family support played a moderating role, attenuating the relationship between parental burnout and depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of family-centered interventions that address not only the child’s therapeutic needs but also the emotional well-being and support systems of caregivers.