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

What is it about?

This article differentiates between helicopter parenting and autonomy supportive parenting in emerging adulthood. Emerging adults who have parents who engage in more automony supportive parenting experience higher rates of life satisfaction and physical health. Additionally, both autonomy supportive and helicopter parenting are related to self-efficacy (in different ways) that in turn, is related to anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, and physical health.

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Why is it important?

This study demonstrates that helicopter parenting may not be inherently problematic, however it may be connected to lower rates of self-efficacy, which has implications for mental and physical health. It also provides initial evidence that practitioners could help emerging adults by encouraging parents to engage in developmentally appropriate behaviors.