Longitudinal Predictors of Helicopter Parenting in Emerging Adulthood
Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory longitudinal study was to examine stability and change of helicopter parenting throughout the first few years of emerging adulthood and to examine child and parent–child relational factors that might predict helicopter parenting. Participants included 453 emerging adults from a northwestern city in the United States (51% female, 33% single-parent families) who participated in a 10-year longitudinal study, with the current study examining ages 19–21. Results revealed that (a) for both mothers and fathers, helicopter parenting decreased over time, (b) some child and relational factors predicted initial levels of helicopter parenting, but (c) the findings were somewhat different for mothers and fathers and for daughters and sons. The findings support the growing understanding that the links between helicopter parenting and child (mal)adjustment are nuanced and complex. Findings have implications for those who work with parents and young people in trying to promote flourishing during emerging adulthood.
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After emerging-adult children enter college, overparenting tendencies diminish.
“Second, after emerging-adult children enter college, overparenting tendencies diminish (Nelson et al., 2021), suggesting that parental influence over their emotional well-being completely fades.”
From Helicopter Parenting and Emotional Problems in Chinese Emerging Adults: Are there Cross-lagged Effects and the Mediations of Autonomy? (2023) · cites this paper as Nelson et al., 2021
Cites
School Engagement: Potential of the Concept, State of the Evidence
Fredricks, J. A., Blumenfeld, P. C., & Paris, A. H. (2004) · Review of Educational Research · doi:10.3102/00346543074001059 · Cited by 12,581 · cited 1× · see citing works
“At age 19, emerging adults who were attending school reported on their own levels of functioning at school based on a 10-item modified version of a School Engagement Scale (Fredricks et al., 2004).”
MethodDoes “hovering” matter? Helicopter parenting and its effect on well-being
LeMoyne, T., & Buchanan, T. (2011) · Sociological Spectrum · doi:10.1080/02732173.2011.574038 · Cited by 495 · see citing works
Developmental changes in parent–child communication throughout adolescence
Keijsers, L., & Poulin, F. (2013) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0032217 · Cited by 301 · cited 1× · see citing works
“For example, work shows that parental attempts to limit their children’s behavioral autonomy tend to decrease across development (Keijsers & Poulin, 2013), while parental granting of autonomy tends to increase (Keijsers et al., 2016; see Soenens et al., 2019, for a review).”
BackgroundParent and Child Traits Associated with Overparenting
Segrin, C., Woszidlo, A., Givertz, M., & Montgomery, N. (2013) · Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1521/jscp.2013.32.6.569 · Cited by 265 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Positive and null findings are common among parent-reported helicopter parenting (Segrin et al., 2013), possibly because the parent does not view “helping” a child as potentially problematic (i.e., limiting of autonomy) or simply feels that the benefits of their involvement outweigh the…”
BackgroundLuebbe, A. M., Mancini, K. J., Kiel, E. J., Spangler, B. R., Semlak, J. L., & Fussner, L. M. (2018) · Assessment · doi:10.1177/1073191116665907 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Schiffrin, H. H., Erchull, M. J., Sendrick, E., Yost, J. C., Power, V., & Saldanha, E. R. (2019) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-019-01513-6 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
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Wang, J., Lai, R., Yang, A., Yang, M., & Guo, Y. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.078 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Gao, W., Hou, Y., Hao, S., & Yu, A. (2023) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-022-01702-5 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
- Authors
- Nelson, L. J., Padilla-Walker, L. M., & McLean, R. D.
- Affiliations
- Brigham Young University (US)
- Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
- Corresponding author
- Nelson, Larry J.
- Venue
- Emerging Adulthood
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-06-17
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 240-251
- ISSN
- 2167-6968 (ISSN-L)
- 2167-6984
- OpenAlex
- W3036599499
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 1.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Emerging Adulthood (publishedVersion)
- ScholarsArchive (Brigham Young University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Keywords
- helicopter parenting, parenting styles, parent-child relationship, child adjustment, gender differences in parenting, parents, single-parent families
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