Parental Rage & Burnout: The Mental Health Reality of Early Parenthood

This week on Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren sits down with Dr. Erin Wissler Gerdes, recent PhD graduate from the University of Iowa College of Public Health, to discuss the mental and emotional realities of early parenthood, including anxiety, burnout, loneliness, and “parental rage.” Drawing from her dissertation research and personal experience as a parent of three young children, Erin explains what parental rage actually is, why it remains under-discussed, and what her research revealed about how common these experiences are among both moms and dads. The conversation explores the role of social support, mental load, overstimulation, and the structural pressures shaping modern parenting. The episode also examines broader public health and policy questions surrounding childcare, parental leave, social isolation, and what meaningful support for families could look like moving forward. In recognition of Mother’s Day weekend, this episode highlights the importance of supporting parents not just individually, but through stronger systems and communities. In this episode, we discuss: -What “parental rage” means and how it differs from everyday frustration -Why anxiety and burnout are strongly linked to rage experiences -Differences and similarities between moms’ and dads’ experiences -The mental load of parenting and modern parenting expectations -Social isolation and the loss of “the village” -Structural barriers facing families, including childcare and parental leave -Why support systems matter for parental mental health *This episode contains discussion of parental mental health, anxiety, burnout, and emotional distress related to parenting.* A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-parental-rage-burnout-and-the-mental-health-reality-of-early-parenthood/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #mentalhealth #parenting #earlyparenthood #burnout #anger #anxiety #isolation #support #iowacity