Parental burnout and reflective functioning in regretful parents: Associations with childhood maltreatment and child dysregulation

Abstract

This study examined the psychological profiles of parents through a person-centered approach, focusing on levels of parenthood regret, parental burnout, and parental reflective functioning (PRF). It further explored the associations between these profiles and experiences of childhood maltreatment as well as child dysregulation. The sample comprised 1,994 cisgender heterosexual parents residing in Italy (M _age = 42.24, SD = 7.15; 85.61% mothers), each with at least one biological child aged 2–18 years (M _age = 9.59, SD = 5.09; 49.75% assigned female at birth). Latent profile analysis identified three distinct psychological profiles: a Low-Risk Profile (81.3%), characterized by low parental burnout and regret alongside high PRF; a Medium-Risk Profile (13.6%), marked by moderate levels across all dimensions; and a High-Risk Profile (5.1%), defined by elevated burnout and regret, coupled with impaired PRF. Fathers and parents with lower educational attainment were more likely to belong to the High-Risk Profile compared to the Low-Risk group, whereas younger parents, mothers, and those with higher levels of education were more likely to fall within the Medium-Risk Profile. Psychological (but not physical) childhood maltreatment significantly predicted membership in the Medium- and High-Risk Profiles. Additionally, parents in higher-risk profiles reported significantly greater child dysregulation. These findings indicate heterogeneous, qualitatively distinct constellations of parental functioning and identify PRF as a central internal resource. Clinically, profile-tailored, maltreatment-informed, mentalization-based interventions may help contain parental burnout, understand parenthood regret under demand, and support children’s regulation.