The Relationship Between Helicopter Parenting and the Psychological Well-Being of Emerging Adults

Helicopter parenting refers to the over-involved behavior of parents and/or caregivers who are highly invested and concerned for the well-being of their children. Helicopter parents typically engage in behaviors designed to remove obstacles from their children’s way. Although helicopter parents likely have good intentions for their children, as a child’s need for autonomy progresses, it is important to adjust the level of involvement and control accordingly. The present study represents an initial investigation into the relationship between helicopter parenting behaviors and the well-being of young university students. Participants consisted of 120 college students in their second semester of freshman year and 25 parents of student participants. Students completed measures of helicopter parenting for up to two parents/caregivers (e.g., mother and/or father), parents completed a self-report measure of helicopter parenting, and all participants completed self-report measures of anxiety and depression. Students who reported high levels of helicopter parenting behavior for the parent/caregiver with whom they have the most contact reported significantly higher levels of anxious arousal and lower grade point averages. Female parents/caregivers were reported to exhibit significantly greater helicopter parenting than that of male parents/caregivers. Male students perceived higher levels of helicopter parenting behaviors than female students. Student and parent reports of helicopter parenting were positively correlated with a large correlation coefficient, suggesting concordance between parent and child reports.