Relationships Between Social Gender Perceptions, Care Burdens, and Burnout Levels Among Mothers of Children with Special Needs

Examining the Relationship Between Social Gender Perceptions, Caregiving Burdens, and Burnout Levels Among Mothers of Children with Special Needs

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between gender perception, caregiving burden, and burnout variables among 150 mothers of children with special needs receiving services from the Çekmeköy Municipality Disability-Free Living Center, using a quantitative correlational survey design. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Gender Perception Scale, and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Since the normality assumption was met based on skewness and kurtosis values, Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were used. The findings showed a moderate positive and significant relationship between care burden and burnout, and it was determined that care burden significantly predicted burnout. Accordingly, an increase in care burden is associated with an increase in burnout. The effect of gender role perception on care burden was not found to be significant, but a weak and negatively significant relationship was found between gender role perception and burnout. Furthermore, it was determined that the level of burnout significantly predicted the negative effects score representing quality of life.

In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that the care burden is one of the strongest predictors of burnout in mothers, that gender norms do not directly explain the care burden but may be associated with burnout; therefore, interventions should be planned within a comprehensive framework that focuses not only on reducing the care burden but also on preventing burnout, strengthening psychosocial resources, and supporting participation in social life.