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Helicopter Parenting, Authenticity, and Depressive Symptoms: A Mediation Model
Lisa A Turner1, Robert D Faulk1, Tully Garner1
1Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
The Journal of Genetic Psychology
|June 20, 2020
Summary
Helicopter parenting hinders authenticity, increasing self-alienation and external influence in college students. This overinvolved parenting style is linked to higher depressive symptoms, impacting emerging adulthood development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Helicopter parenting, characterized by overinvolvement and control, may impede healthy adolescent development.
- Authenticity, crucial for emerging adulthood, involves self-awareness and genuine self-expression, acting as a protective factor against depressive symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test a model where helicopter parenting influences depressive symptoms through its impact on authenticity.
- To examine the relationship between helicopter parenting, authenticity (self-alienation, authentic living, external influence), and depressive symptoms in college students.
Main Methods:
- Path analysis was used to evaluate the proposed model.
- 286 college students completed self-report measures of helicopter parenting, authenticity, and depressive symptoms.
Main Results:
- Helicopter parenting was associated with increased self-alienation and external influence, and decreased authentic living.
- Self-alienation and authentic living significantly predicted depressive symptoms.
- External influence was not found to be related to depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Helicopter parenting negatively impacts authenticity, potentially contributing to depressive symptoms and difficulties during emerging adulthood.
- Findings underscore the importance of parental behaviors in fostering authenticity and mitigating depression risk in college students.
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