FROM EXPERIENCES OF PARENTIFICATION TO THE CHOICE OF HELPING PROFESSIONS: DEVELOPMENT OF EMPATHY, RISK OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT, AND PERSPECTIVES FOR PREVENTION

Abstract

Parentification, defined as the reversal of family roles where children take on developmentally inappropriate caregiving responsibilities, has long been recognized as a complex developmental experience with both risk and resource potential (Boszormenyi-Nagy & Spark, 1973; Chase, 1999; Hooper, 2007). Research has shown that parentification is linked to increased vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and relational difficulties, but also to heightened empathy, sensitivity, and interpersonal competence (Hooper et al., 2011; Tedgård & Wirtberg, 2021; Dariotis et al., 2023).