Poster #94 - Experienced versus Desired Levels of Helicopter Parenting: A Latent Profile Analysis

• In Event: 1-005 - Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Section - Family Context & Processes

Integrative Statement

Helicopter parenting (HP) is the use of age-inappropriate parenting behaviors, including monitoring, problem-solving, and over-involvement in children’s lives (Segrin et al., 2013). This type of parenting behavior can become problematic, as it linked to negative developmental outcomes, such as lower psychological well-being, lower life satisfaction, and higher rates of anxiety and depression (Nelson et al., 2015). As children develop into emerging adults, they develop a need for greater autonomy (Kakihara & Tilton-Weaver, 2009) and may not agree with their parents on the level of control and parenting that is needed. This could create an environment where parents want to continue to help their children, but their children want more freedom (Padilla-Walker, Nelson, & Knapp, 2014; Smetana 2011).

Not all young adults who experience helicopter parenting may dislike this behavior, however, especially if such parenting allows them to avoid responsibility. Also, individuals who feel incapable of acting autonomously may perceive HP as warranted. For these young adults, continued exposure to HP may undermine feelings of self-efficacy and adjustment (Van Ingen et al., 2015) but may not be problematic for the parent-child relationship, as is more typically found (Segrin et al., 2012). The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are groups of students who differ in how much they experience and want HP in their lives and whether the negative associations of HP depended on whether the experience of HP is desired.

Two hundred thirty-three college students were recruited from two Southern U.S. Universities (Mage = 22.33, SD = 2.93). Participants were primarily female (84%) and fairly diverse (61% Caucasian). Students reported their experience with HP by indicating the extent to which their parents provide assistance and monitoring for academic/job, personal, and health issues on a 1 (not at all like my parents) to 5 (very much like my parents) scale. They also indicated their desired level of each of those behaviors from their parents (1 = want much less, 3 = about right, 5 = want much more). Students reported their internalizing symptoms (DASS; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), feelings of parental over-control (Stattin & Kerr, 2000), discord with parents (NRI discord; Furman & Buhrmester, 1985), and coping strategies (Tobin, 1995). Mplus 8.0 was used to create a latent profile analysis on experienced and desired levels of helicopter parenting and to examine differences between profiles on adjustment and relationship quality correlates.

Three profiles emerged from the data 1) students experiencing low levels of HP who were content with that amount (Happy Autonomous; 77%), 2) students experiencing moderate levels of HP who were content with that amount (Happy Helicoptered; 10.2%), and 3) students experiencing low levels of HP who wanted lower amounts (Frustrated Autonomous; 12.9%). See Figure 1. Happy Helicoptered students reported more internalizing symptoms (see Figure 2) and less problem-focused engagement coping than either Autonomous group. They also reported more discord with parents than Happy Autonomous students (or marginally, than Frustrated Autonomous students). Happy Autonomous individuals reported less felt over-control than did either of the other groups.

Authors

• Claire Kinney, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
  Presenting Author

• Wendy Meredith Rote, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ashley Chapman, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
  Non-Presenting Author

• Renee Patrick, University of Tampa
  Non-Presenting Author