VoiKu 2018-2024

The VoiKu study is part of the International Investigation of Parental Burnout (IIPB) consortium project (Roskam & Mikolajczak, 2018-) focusing on various factors that, on the one hand, increase parents' satisfaction with being a parent and, on the other hand, increase the risk of parental burnout. A special focus is on the cultural differences in parenthood and parental well-being, as well as in individual and societal factors playing a role in these. Research material is collected in different years with survey questionnaires and by interviewing a targeted group of parents.

Table of contents

Project duration
-
Core fields of research
Learning, teaching and interaction
Sustainable business and economics
Research areas
JYU.Well
Childhood and family
Family Research
Department
Department of Psychology
Co-operation
Vanhempien Akatemia, Erityisvoimia.fi, Väestöliitto, Familia Ry, Terveyden ja Hyvinvoinnin laitos, MIELI Suomen mielnterveys ry
Faculty
Faculty of Education and Psychology

Project description

The VoiKu study, which began in 2018, examines the various factors that, on the one hand, increase parents' satisfaction with being a parent and, on the other hand, increase the risk of parental burnout. As part of the study, a screening method for parental burnout has been developed (The Brief Parental Burnout scale (BPBs)). BPBs can be used, for example, in family and child health clinic work to identify those parents and families who are at risk of parental burnout and who, as a preventive measure, would benefit from concrete support actions. 

The study is part of the international consortium ””, involving more than 50 countries around the world. The consortium project is lead and coordinated by professors Isabelle Roskam and Moïra Mikolajczak from the University of Louvain in Belgium.  In Finland, the principal investigators of the study are Professor Kaisa Aunola from the Ģֱ and Adjunct professor Matilda Sorkkila from the University of Helsinki. The research project is based on recent international research that has shown that parental burnout is a separate phenomenon from work burnout and depression. The ongoing consortium project enables a global comparison not only of the occurrence of parenting burnout at different times in different parts of the world, but also of the factors that predispose to parental burnout in different cultures or, alternatively, promote parental well-being.

News

Kytölä, J., Kosonen, R., Aunola, K., Muotka, J., & Sorkkila, M. (2025). Child maltreatment profiles of Finnish parents and their association with parental burnout during COVID-19-lockdown. Family Journal, Online First. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807241269458

Mikolajczak, M., Aunola, K., Sorkkila, M., & Roskam, I. (2023). 15 Years of parental burnout research: Systematic review and agenda. Current Directions in Psychological Science, OnlineFirst. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214221142777

Publications and media releases

Project team

Project leaders

Kaisa Aunola

Kaisa Aunola

Professor

External members

Matilda Sorkkila

Adjunct Professor, University Lecturer (co-leader)
University of Helsinki