The interplay between parental perfectionism, emotional intelligence, and parental burnout

Perfectionism has increasingly permeated contemporary parenting, with parents striving for perfection in their roles and demanding flawless performance from their children. This tendency, defined as parental perfectionism (PP), can be so demanding that it leads to parental burnout (PB), particularly among parents with lower levels of emotional intelligence (EI). This study employed both variable-centered (regression analysis) and person-centered (latent profile analysis) approaches to examine the complex relationships among PP, EI, and PB using self-reported data from a sample of Polish parents (N = 506). Regression analyses revealed that two PP dimensions—concerns over parenting mistakes and perceived discrepancy between parental expectations and children's performance—predicted higher PB symptoms, even after controlling for other PP dimensions. Notably, EI mitigated most of these effects but was less effective in preventing emotional exhaustion. Latent profile analysis further underscored the detrimental impact of perfectionistic concerns and discrepancy on PB. Additionally, EI appeared to shield perfectionistic parents from PB, particularly by helping prevent “No-Burnout” parents from becoming “Vulnerable-to-Burnout” parents.