How long does this quiz take?

This quiz takes about 5-8 minutes to complete.

Are my responses private?

Yes, all answers are anonymized and confidential.

Can I take this test more than once?

Yes, you can retake the test any time to see how your results may have changed.

Will this quiz diagnose parental burnout?

No. This assessment is a screening tool designed to increase self-awareness, not a clinical diagnosis.

Can my results help me decide if I should seek support?

Yes. Your results can help you determine whether additional support or professional guidance may be beneficial.

This evidence-based parental burnout test helps identify emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced fulfillment in parenthood.

Parental Burnout Assessment

Understand how parenthood may be quietly draining your emotional reserves.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | Last Updated: December 22, 2025

Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Jourdan Travers, LCSW

Parenthood can be deeply meaningful, but it can also become emotionally overwhelming when demands consistently outweigh available resources. The Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) is a research-backed tool designed to help parents recognize signs of burnout that go beyond everyday stress.

Unlike general stress or fatigue, parental burnout involves emotional exhaustion, emotional distancing from one’s children, and a growing sense of inefficacy as a parent. These experiences can co-occur with heightened sensitivity to stress and rumination, which may be explored further using tools like the Anxiety Sensitivity Test or the Mistake Rumination Scale.

By completing this assessment, you gain insight into whether your current parenting experience reflects temporary strain or a deeper pattern of burnout—an important first step toward recovery, support, and self-compassion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this quiz take?: This quiz takes about 5-8 minutes to complete.
Are my responses private?: Yes, all Parental Burnout Assessment answers are anonymized and confidential.
Can I take this test more than once?: Yes, you can retake the test any time to see how your Parental Burnout Assessment results may have changed.
Will this quiz diagnose parental burnout?: No. This assessment is a screening tool designed to increase self-awareness, not a clinical diagnosis.
Can my results help me decide if I should seek support?: Yes. Your results can help you determine whether additional support or professional guidance may be beneficial.

Parental Burnout Assessment: Take The 23-Item Test

Step 1: Give Your Ratings Below

For each statement, indicate how often you experience the situation on a scale of 1 (Never) to 5 (Daily). For best results, answer honestly and trust your first instinct.

1. I feel completely run down by my role as a parent.

2. I have the sense that I’m really worn out as a parent.

3. I’m so tired out by my role as a parent that sleeping doesn’t seem like enough.

4. When I get up in the morning and have to face another day with my child(ren), I feel exhausted before I’ve even started.

5. I find it exhausting just thinking of everything I have to do for my child(ren).

6. I have zero energy for looking after my child(ren).

7. My role as a parent uses up all my resources.

8. I sometimes have the impression that I'm looking after my child(ren) on autopilot.

9. I’m in survival mode in my role as a parent.

10. I don't think I’m the good father/mother that I used to be to my child(ren).

11. I tell myself that I’m no longer the parent I used to be.

12. I'm ashamed of the parent that I’ve become.

13. I’m no longer proud of myself as a parent.

14. I have the impression that I’m not myself anymore when I’m interacting with my child(ren).

15. I feel as though I’ve lost my direction as a dad/mum.

16. I can’t stand my role as father/mother anymore.

17. I can’t take being a parent anymore.

18. I feel like I can’t take any more as a parent.

19. I feel like I can’t cope as a parent.

20. I don’t enjoy being with my child(ren).

21. I do what I’m supposed to do for my child(ren), but nothing more.

22. Outside the usual routines, I’m no longer able to make an effort for my child(ren).

23. I’m no longer able to show my child(ren) how much I love them.

Step 2: Enter Your Demographics

Provide your age, gender, region, and first name for a detailed report comparing your results to others.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Submit Your Parental Burnout Assessment Answers

After completing all questions, click below to send your responses to Mark Travers, Ph.D. All answers are anonymized and confidential.

References

Roskam, I., Brianda, M. E., & Mikolajczak, M. (2018). A step forward in the conceptualization and measurement of parental burnout: The Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA). Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 758.

Disclaimer

This scale is designed for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.