Impact of Helicopter Parenting Style on Child Development

Impact Of Helicopter Parenting Style on Emotional and social competence?

1. A Battista said parenting is a complex task, but the best gift a parent can ever give their children is the gift of their time by spending enough time with them daily. Parenting is a societal issue that many researchers have sought to understand due to its ramifications on children’s futures. Over the years, researchers have uncovered different parenting styles parents have employed while nurturing their children. Each parenting style has been determined to have several advantages and drawbacks. One of the most intriguing parenting styles is helicopter parenting. The helicopter parenting approach often describes parents who closely supervise and control their kids’ behavior, frequently hovering over them like a chopper. Parents who act as their children’s “helicopters” are frequently involved in their lives, continuously watching them and making decisions for them. Although helicopter parenting frequently has the best intentions, it has raised questions about its effectiveness and possible repercussions on child development.

Thesis Statement

This study aims to examine the efficiency of helicopter parenting by investigating its influence on social development and emotional well-being.

Problem Statement

In today’s world, helicopter parenting is more and more common. Parents with this style often have their children’s best interests at heart. However, the is a heated debate about the parenting style. There is disagreement on whether or not this parenting approach is suitable for kids’ development and growth. In order to give parents and other professionals who interact with children evidence-based advice, it is critical to comprehend the potential adverse effects of helicopter parenting.

Independent Variable: Helicopter Parenting Style

Dependent variable: Emotional well-being and social competence

Research Question

What is the relationship between helicopter parenting and child development outcomes, including emotional well-being and social competence?

Hypothesis:

Child development outcomes are negatively connected with helicopter parenting, resulting in diminished mental health, autonomy, academic performance, and social competence.

Null Hypothesis:

There is no significant relationship between helicopter parenting and a child’s social and emotional development.

Literature Review

The literature on helicopter parenting provides insights into its characteristics and potential consequences for child development. Research suggests that helicopter parenting may hinder children’s emotional well-being development. Constant surveillance and overprotectiveness can impede children’s ability to manage their emotions and solve problems independently, leading to increased anxiety and reduced resilience (Ganaprakasam et al., 2017). Moreover, helicopter parenting has been associated with diminished autonomy in children. Children may be prevented from developing self-control, decision-making abilities, and the capacity to accept responsibility for their actions if parents constantly intervene and make decisions for them. This lack of independence can impede their personal development and reduce their capacity for successfully overcoming obstacles (Ganaprakasam et al., 2017)

Academic performance is another critical aspect affected by helicopter parenting. While parents’ involvement in their children’s education is generally beneficial, excessive involvement can hinder the ability of children to nature social relationships with their peers in school. Helicopter parents may intervene excessively in their children’s daily lives, robbing them of opportunities to learn from their mistakes and develop problem-solving skills independently. This interference can ultimately lead to declined emotional growth and reduced motivation (Schiffrin & Liss, 2017). Furthermore, helicopter parenting has been linked to compromised social competence. Overly attentive parents may restrict a child’s opportunities for social connection and autonomy in social situations. This lack of autonomy can impede the growth of social skills like collaboration and conflict resolution, which are necessary for positive social interactions (Munawar, 2022).

Research Methodology

A quantitative research approach will be used to examine the connection between helicopter parenting and outcomes for child development. A sample of parents and their 8–12-year-old children will be gathered for the study. In addition to self-reporting exercises, participants must use observational techniques.

The Parental Behavioral Scale (PBS) will measure the extent of helicopter parenting behaviors. The PBS consists of items assessing parental monitoring, overprotectiveness, and parental involvement in various aspects of the child’s life. The scale comprehensively assesses helicopter parenting tendencies (Zhang et al., 2022). To measure the dependent variable of parenting style, researchers will administer the PBS to participants, typically parents, who are being studied. The scale will consist of questions or statements related to parenting behaviors associated with helicopter parenting. On a predetermined measure (such as a Likert scale), participants will be asked to score their agreement with or frequency of engaging in these actions. The scale might have statements like “I constantly check in on my child’s activities and whereabouts,” “I step in right away when my child faces challenges or difficulties,” or “I am heavily involved in my child’s schoolwork and extracurricular activities.” as examples. Participants will indicate their level of agreement or engagement with each statement, allowing researchers to quantify the degree to which they exhibit helicopter parenting tendencies.

Child development outcomes will be assessed using validated scales and performance indicators. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) will measure emotional well-being. The CBCL is a widely used questionnaire completed by parents, assessing children’s various emotional and behavioral problems. (Guerrera et al., 2019).

Data will be gathered from both parents and children to understand the parent-child interaction and its effect on child development outcomes. Before data collection, parental and minor consent will be acquired, ensuring that moral standards are upheld. The association between helicopter parenting and outcomes for children will be investigated through statistical analysis, such as correlation and regression studies (Weaver et al., 2017). Control variables, including socioeconomic position and parental education, will be included to adjust for potential confounding variables.

Results

The results of this study will shed light on the connection between helicopter parenting and the development of children. It would imply that helicopter parenting may not be practical or advantageous if the hypothesis were confirmed. If the hypothesis is confirmed, it will show a negative association between helicopter parenting and child social and emotional development. Understanding the potential drawbacks of helicopter parenting can help direct interventions and offer evidence-based suggestions for building healthy parenting habits and supporting the best possible development of children.

References

Ganaprakasam, C., Davaidass, K. S., & Muniandy, S. C. (2018). Helicopter parenting and psychological consequences among adolescents. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 8(6), 378-382.

Guerrera, S., Menghini, D., Napoli, E., Di Vara, S., Valeri, G., & Vicari, S. (2019). Assessment of psychopathological comorbidities in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder using the child behavior checklist—frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 535.

Munawar, S. (2022). EFFECTS OF HELICOPTER PARENTING ON CHILDRENS’PSYCHO-SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, 2(01), 29–42.

Schiffrin, H. H., & Liss, M. (2017). The effects of helicopter parenting on academic motivation. In Key Topics in Parenting and Behavior (pp. 47-55). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Weaver, K. F., Morales, V. C., Dunn, S. L., Godde, K., & Weaver, P. F. (2017). An introduction to statistical analysis in research: with applications in the biological and life sciences. John Wiley & Sons.

Zhang, C., Zhou, T., Yi, C., Liu, S., Hong, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Adaptation and validation of the Parental Behaviour Scale for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Chinese parents. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, p. 98, 102048.