SILENT EXHAUSTION: BURNOUT IN CONTEMPORARY SOLE MOTHERS

Abstract

Burnout Syndrome represents a significant challenge concerning mental health, especially among women who juggle multiple responsibilities, including work, domestic duties, and family care. This study focuses on contemporary solo mothers, who face emotional and physical overload due to the combination of professional stress and family demands. The research aims to understand how these factors impact the mental health and well-being of this population, highlighting the need for interventions and public policies to address this issue. Recognized by the WHO as a result of occupational stress, the syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion and professional disengagement, exacerbated by social expectations and a lack of support. The theoretical framework encompasses Social Role Theory, which explains the excessive burden that solo mothers experience due to traditional roles entrenched in society. Employing a qualitative approach, the research will involve a systematic literature review across academic databases. Studies published in the last ten years will be considered, focusing on the mental health of solo mothers and their specificities, with the aim of analyzing the social and economic dynamics contributing to burnout. The objective is to comprehend the unique pressures these women face and the impacts on their mental health, fostering a necessary debate about their living and working conditions in contemporary society.