Mothers' Parental Burnout Linked to Adolescent Aggression and Maternal Rejection

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Peking University investigated the relationship between mothers' parental burnout and adolescents' aggression, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying this relation. The study, supported by the Humanities And Social Sciences Fund of The Ministry of Education in China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, found that mothers' parental burnout was significantly and positively associated with adolescent aggression. The results also revealed that adolescents' cognitive empathy served as a buffer in the relationship between parental burnout and adolescents' aggression. Furthermore, the study found that the relation between parental burnout and aggression as well as parental burnout and maternal rejection was stronger for boys.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mothers' parental burnout is a significant risk factor for adolescents' aggression.
  • The relationship between mothers' parental burnout and adolescents' aggression is partially mediated by adolescent-perceived maternal rejection.
  • Adolescent cognitive empathy serves as a buffer in the relationship between parental burnout and adolescents' aggression.
  • The relation between parental burnout and aggression as well as parental burnout and maternal rejection is stronger for boys.
  • The study highlights the need to improve social cognitive abilities in aggression intervention programs.

Statistics:

  • 578 Chinese adolescent-mother dyads completed questionnaires for the study.
  • 52.42% of the adolescents were girls.
  • The average age of the adolescents was 15.30 years (SD = 1.67).
  • The average age of the mothers was 42.71 years (SD = 5.49).
  • The study found that mothers' parental burnout was significantly and positively associated with adolescent aggression (r = 0.43, p < 0.01).
  • The results showed that adolescents' cognitive empathy served as a buffer in the relationship between parental burnout and adolescents' aggression (β = -0.27, p < 0.05).

Sources:

  • Wang, Q., Qiao, Y., & Su, Y. (2025). The Link Between Mothers' Parental Burnout and Adolescent Aggression: The Roles of Maternal Rejection and Adolescent Empathy. Behavioral Sciences, 15(7), 902. (Published by MDPI AG, doi: 10.3390/bs15070902).
  • NewsRx. Studies from Peking University Further Understanding of Behavioral Science (The Link Between Mothers' Parental Burnout and Adolescent Aggression: The Roles of Maternal Rejection and Adolescent Empathy). Science Letter. August 15, 2025; p 2484.