Helicopter Parenting and Emerging Adult Self-Efficacy: Implications for Mental and Physical Health

Abstract

Helicopter parenting has become an increasing concern among practitioners, college administrators, and professors. Further, some research has indicated that this form of parenting may have a deleterious effect on emerging adult college students' mental health. This study examines the factor structure of the Helicopter Parenting Behaviors measure, a recent scale developed to examine intrusive and supportive parenting behaviors, by using confirmatory factor analysis. We utilized a self-determination theoretical framework to replicate and expand current research regarding the impact of helicopter parenting and autonomy supportive parenting on emerging adult mental and physical well-being. Further, we examined selfefficacy as a mechanism for helicopter parenting and autonomy supportive parenting to impact well-being, using structural equation modeling with a sample of 461 emerging adult college students from a large southeastern, United States university. The two-factor structure of the Helicopter Parenting Behaviors measure was confirmed, indicating helicopter parenting and autonomy supportive parenting are two unique, but related, constructs. Both autonomy supportive parenting and helicopter parenting were found to have indirect effects on anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, and physical health through self-efficacy. Results also indicated autonomy supportive parenting was directly related to life satisfaction and physical health when accounting for self-efficacy, whereas helicopter parenting was not directly related to well-being. This study adds to the extant literature by its' application of a family-level lens to the self-determination theory, its' advancement of parenting behaviors measurement, and its' exploration of the continued influence of parenting during emerging adulthood.

Examining the Effects of Exercise on Frustration-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rats

“…However, only three published studies have examined potential mediators of these associations, meaning that the mechanisms by which helicopter parenting may be associated with poor mental health outcomes for college students have not been largely explored. Reed et al (2016) found that helicopter parenting and autonomy support have indirect relationships with anxiety and depression through lower selfefficacy. Schiffrin et al (2014) reported that relationships between helicopter parenting/autonomy support and depression were mediated by college students' perceived violation of their need for autonomy and competence.…”

“…One area that has received less research atten tion (but where the literature is perhaps most consistent) concerns links between helicopter par enting behaviors and poor mental health outcomes in college students. College students who report that their parents engage in high levels of helicopter parenting endorse more symptoms of generalized anxiety (Darlow, Norvilitis, & Schuetze, 2017;Reed et al, 2016), social anxiety (Kouros, Pruitt, Ekas, Kiriaki, & Sunderland, 2017), depression (Darlow et al, 2017;Reilly & Semkovska, 2018;Schiffrin et al, 2014), as well as greater psychotropic medica tion use for anxiety and depression (LeMoyne & Buchanan, 2011). However, only three published studies have examined potential mediators of these associations, meaning that the mechanisms by which helicopter parenting may be associated with poor mental health outcomes for college students have not been largely explored.…”

Effects of Helicopter Parenting on Depression in Female Emerging Adults : Examining the Mediating Role of Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism

“…(Darlow, Noviltis, & Schuetze, 2017;C. Han, 2016;Kouros et al, 2017;LeMoyne & Buchanan, 2011;Reed, Duncan, Lucier-Greer, Fixelle, & Ferraro, 2016;Schiffrin et al, 2014).…”

Controlling Images: Institutional Stereotypes of Engagement of Low-Income Families, First-Generation Families, and Families of Color

“…The predominant stereotypes about the involvement of today's parents of college students depicts them as undesirable and negative (Carney-Hall, 2008;Taub, 2008). More specifically, elevated levels of parent and family involvement have been linked to emotional and psychological difficulties among college students (LeMoyne & Buchanan, 2011;Kwon, Yoo, and Gagne, 2017;Reed et al, 2016;Ulutas & Aksoy, 2014). The college enrollment options may be more limited among first-generation and students of color with strong ties to their parents and who do not want to be physically distant from family (Lopez Turley et al, 2010).…”

“…Perhaps the most pervasive negative stereotype surrounding parent involvement is the notion of helicopter parents, also termed bulldozers, black hawk parents, and kamikaze parents (Kiyama & Harper, in press;Wartman & Savage, 2008). These terms suggest that parents' role is overly hovering, extreme, and potentially harmful to students' development (Kiyama & Harper, in press;Kwon, Yoo, & Gagne, 2017;Reed et al, 2016;Taylor, 2006. More often than not, underrepresented families are missing or portrayed as less involved, harmful, and less resourceful for their college-aged children.…”