The Mediating Role of Perfectionism and the Need for Social Approval in the Effect of Helicopter Parenting on Psychological Well-Being in Emerging Adults

Volume 8 Issue 2 (March 2023)
Tolga SEKÄ°
Pages: 343-353 Download Count : 374 View Count: 423 DOI Number 10.24331/ijere.1255279 Facebook Share on Google+ Save to Zotero Save to Mendeley

Abstract:


Although helicopter parenting first attracted attention in the popular press, it is a concept that has gained experimental significance in the last few years. The growing literature on this subject has revealed many negative consequences of helicopter parenting. Research on emerging adults has shown that helicopter parenting is related to negative mental health outcomes. However, this effect can show a complex structure. The structure revealed by helicopter parenting attitude and related factors should be supported by a new study. In line with this information, the mediating role of perfectionism and the need for social approval in the effect of helicopter parenting attitudes in emerging adults on psychological well-being were investigated. The study was carried out on 405 university students (Mean= 21.09, SD= 1.79). The relations between the variables were analyzed by the Structural Equation Model. According to the research findings, the need for social approval and maladaptive perfectionism played a fully mediating role in the effect of helicopter parenting attitude on psychological well-being. The results highlighted that although the helicopter parenting attitude poses a threat to emerging adults’ psychological well-being, this effect occurs indirectly through maladaptive perfectionism and the need for social approval.

Keywords

  • Helicopter parenting
  • Need for social approval
  • Perfectionism
  • Psychological well-being
Download PDF