Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Parenting

Helicopter parenting leads to interpersonal conflict through heightened psychological entitlement, study suggests

by Laura Staloch
June 26, 2023
in Parenting, Social Psychology
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Follow PsyPost on Google News

New research from China sheds light on the relationship between helicopter parenting and how students behave socially in college. The findings indicate that college students who reported experiencing helicopter parenting also experienced more interpersonal conflict with their peers. The origin of these conflicts seemed to be a sense of entitlement and a greater fear of missing out. This research is another piece of evidence that demonstrates the consequences of helicopter parenting.

The research was published in Healthcare.

Helicopter parenting, characterized by over-involvement, over-protection, and over-control, can lead to negative outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The new study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism linking helicopter parenting to college students’ relationships and conflicts. The study was conducted in China, an ideal place to study helicopter parenting. The Chinese one-child-per-family policy has resulted in many parents working hard to ensure their only child succeeds.

Ting Nie and colleagues conducted a two-round survey among college students in Macau, China. In the first round, they collected data on demographic information, helicopter parenting, and interpersonal conflict. In the second round, they measured psychological entitlement and fear of missing out.

The total number of questionnaires distributed was 800, of which 694 valid questionnaires were recovered. In the second round of data collection, the questionnaires were distributed to the same group of participants, and 505 valid questionnaires were recovered.

The results of the study show that helicopter parenting is indirectly related to interpersonal conflict among college students. Specifically, the research team found that helicopter parenting is positively related to psychological entitlement and the fear of missing out, which in turn is positively related to interpersonal conflict.

In other words, those who agreed with statements such as “My parents will help me with any crisis or problem I may encounter” were more likely to also agree with statements such as “I deserve more from life” and “I’m afraid that my friends have more experience than I do.” Students with greater entitlement and fear of missing out, meanwhile, tended to report experiencing more interpersonal conflict, such as getting into arguments with their peers.

The researchers also found that the indirect effect of helicopter parenting on interpersonal conflict was stronger when the students felt competitive and pressured to compare their academic success with their fellow classmates.

The authors acknowledge several limitations of their study. First, the study was conducted in a specific cultural context and may not be generalizable to other cultures. Second, the study relied on self-reported data, possibly subject to social desirability bias. Third, the study did not measure other variables that may influence the relationship between helicopter personality traits, family dynamics, and cultural values.

But the study’s findings have important implications for parents, educators, and policymakers. Parents should be aware of the negative consequences of helicopter parenting, like overestimation of abilities, excessive self-focus, and a lack of autonomy, and strive to strike a balance between involvement and autonomy. Educators should also be aware of the impact of helicopter parenting on students’ relationships and conflicts and provide support and guidance to students. Policymakers should consider the impact of family policies on parenting practices and provide resources and support to families.

“As an emerging parenting style, helicopter parenting has gained widespread attention in recent years. In particular, with birth rates declining and family sizes decreasing worldwide, helicopter parenting is likely to become more prevalent,” the researchers concluded.

“Some studies have reported certain negative effects of helicopter parenting; however, to date, its underlying influence mechanisms remain unclear. Our results show that it not only exerts short-term effects on the cognition and behavior of adolescents, but also generates long-term effects on aspects such as work and marriage in adulthood. Future studies may consider follow-up interviews or use longitudinal data to gain a comprehensive understanding of the role that helicopter parenting plays throughout an individual’s life.”

“In addition, the causes of helicopter parenting are worth exploring in depth. Personal traits, regional policies, social pressures, and family characteristics may all contribute to helicopter parenting, which needs to be verified in future studies.”

The study, “An investigation of helicopter parenting and interpersonal conflict in a competitive college climate“, was authored by Ting Nie, Mingyang Cai, and Yan Chen.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin6ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Dark personality traits linked to “social zapping”: New study examines people who cancel plans at the last minute
Narcissism

Narcissistic individuals are more prone to maladaptive daydreaming

July 14, 2025

A new study suggests that narcissistic personality traits are linked to maladaptive daydreaming, with psychological defense mechanisms playing a key role in the relationship. The findings highlight how different defense styles may influence a person’s tendency to escape into fantasy.

Read moreDetails
Daughters who feel more attractive report stronger, more protective bonds with their fathers
Artificial Intelligence

People who use AI may pay a social price, according to new psychology research

July 14, 2025

Worried that using AI tools like ChatGPT at work makes you look lazy? New research suggests you might be right. A study finds employees who use AI are often judged more harshly, facing negative perceptions about their competence and effort.

Read moreDetails
New research shows the psychological toll of the 2024 presidential election
Anxiety

New research shows the psychological toll of the 2024 presidential election

July 13, 2025

Among young adults, stress from election news was linked to higher risks of depression and anxiety, while pre-election anticipatory stress was linked to depression only. Stress about the election outcome was not associated with either condition.

Read moreDetails
Daughters who feel more attractive report stronger, more protective bonds with their fathers
Evolutionary Psychology

Daughters who feel more attractive report stronger, more protective bonds with their fathers

July 13, 2025

A new study finds fathers with higher education and income have more supportive, less controlling relationships with their daughters. Daughters who feel attractive also report stronger, more protective bonds with their fathers.

Read moreDetails
Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is
Psychopathy

Psychopathic personality and weak impulse control pair up to predict teen property crime

July 12, 2025

Psychopathic traits alone don’t always lead to serious offending—but when combined with weak self-regulation, they may significantly raise the risk. A new study reveals how these factors interact to shape property crime patterns in adolescents already involved in the justice system.

Read moreDetails
Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is
Political Psychology

Liberals and conservatives live differently — but people think the divide is even bigger than it is

July 12, 2025

New research finds that students with different political identities tend to engage in slightly different everyday behaviors. But students dramatically overestimate how much liberals and conservatives differ, fueling a distorted sense of social and political division.

Read moreDetails
A surprising body part might provide key insights into schizophrenia risk
Machiavellianism

Massive psychology study reveals disturbing truths about Machiavellian leaders

July 11, 2025

For employees working under a manipulative boss, the damage is clear: lower job satisfaction and higher burnout. A study in the Journal of Organizational Behavior confirms this toxic impact, yet reveals these leaders aren't always penalized for their destructive behavior.

Read moreDetails
Psychopathic tendencies may be associated with specific hormonal patterns
Psychopathy

Psychopathic tendencies may be associated with specific hormonal patterns

July 10, 2025

What if the roots of psychopathy could be traced in our blood? New research is looking beyond psychology and into our endocrine system. A new study suggests hormones like cortisol and testosterone may hold important clues to a person's manipulative and impulsive tendencies.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

The triglyceride-glucose index: Can it predict depression risk in the elderly?

People with ADHD exhibit altered brain activity before making high-stakes choices

Narcissistic individuals are more prone to maladaptive daydreaming

Effort or fate? Sexual mindsets predict whether bedroom bliss spills over into broader wellbeing

People who use AI may pay a social price, according to new psychology research

Researchers identify a shared brain pattern behind feeling surprised

New research shows the psychological toll of the 2024 presidential election

Methylphenidate: ADHD drug curbs impulsivity in men only, linked to brain wiring differences

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy