Caregiving, maternal burnout, and child dysregulation: Validating the Italian Caregiving Experiences Questionnaire

Objective: This research validated the Italian version of the 40-item Caregiving Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ) by examining its factor structure and associations with maternal burnout and child dysregulation. Background: Caregiving representations shape parental behavior and influence child development. Existing measures are resource intensive, limiting accessibility. The CEQ offers a practical self-report alternative, but its validation remains limited. Method: Two studies involved independent samples of Italian cisgender, heterosexual, biological mothers. Study 1 assessed the CEQ's factor structure, reliability, and measurement invariance across child gender, developmental stage, and maternal education (N = 891; Mage = 41.48, SD = 6.76). Study 2 used structural equation modeling to assess relations among caregiving, maternal burnout, and child dysregulation among 743 mothers (M = 42.31 years, SD = 6.64) of children mean aged 8.76 (SD = 4.99). Results: A four-factor, 29-item model (Enjoyment, Helplessness, Heightened Caregiving, Role Reversal) showed strong psychometric properties and invariance across subgroups. Maternal burnout mediated the relations between enjoyment, heightened caregiving, and role reversal and child dysregulation. Helplessness exerted a direct effect. Conclusion: The Italian CEQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing maternal caregiving, relevant across developmental and demographic contexts. Implications: Interventions targeting maternal caregiving and burnout may reduce child dysregulation.