Maternal Burnout In Deep East Texas: A Mixed-Methods Study

Background and Purpose:

Maternal burnout, characterized by chronic exhaustion, emotional distancing, and identity loss related to parenting, has emerged as a significant public health concern. Despite growing attention to maternal mental health, limited research has examined maternal burnout within rural U.S. populations, where contextual stressors such as geographic isolation and limited access to resources may intensify risk. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of maternal burnout among mothers in Deep East Texas and to explore how lived experiences contextualize these findings. A secondary aim was to inform the development of a tailored, evidence-based intervention.

Methods:

This study employed a cross-sectional explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 124 mothers through an online survey administered between March and May 2025. Validated instruments measured maternal burnout, depression, anxiety, and perceived social support. Statistical analyses, including correlations, multiple regression, and mediation analyses, were conducted to identify significant predictors of burnout.

Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with nine participants in June 2025. Interviews explored mothers’ lived experiences with burnout, including stressors, coping strategies, and perceptions of support. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns and themes.

Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings provided a comprehensive understanding of maternal burnout in this population.

Findings:

Quantitative results indicated that maternal burnout was prevalent, with 61.1% of participants reporting moderate to severe levels. Depression emerged as a significant predictor, explaining approximately 40% of the variance in burnout, while anxiety further compounded risk. Additional factors, including number of children, were also associated with increased burnout levels.

Qualitative findings provided deeper insight into these patterns. Major themes included

1. chronic overload and the “invisible labor” of motherhood,
2. identity erosion and perfectionism, and
3. the complex role of social support.

Participants described persistent mental and emotional demands, often expressing that they could “never turn it off.” While social support was identified as protective, it was only beneficial when aligned with mothers’ needs; misaligned or judgmental support often exacerbated stress and feelings of inadequacy. Contextual factors such as rural isolation, financial strain, and limited access to services further intensified burnout experiences.

Integrated findings demonstrate that while mental health symptoms are strong predictors of burnout, lived experiences reveal a broader interplay of identity, environmental stressors, and relational dynamics.

Conclusion and Implications:

This study highlights maternal burnout as a multifaceted issue shaped by psychological, social, and contextual factors in rural communities. Findings underscore the need for interventions that go beyond symptom reduction to include identity preservation, social support alignment, and contextual sensitivity. In response, a group-based intervention model was developed incorporating psychoeducation, peer support, skill-building, and identity-focused strategies. These findings inform social work practice and contribute to the development of targeted, evidence-based supports for maternal well-being in underserved rural populations.