Overinvolvement of Parents Causes Stressful Conditions to Children, Study Suggests

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Children with helicopter parents—those who are excessively involved in their child’s life—are likely to suffer from burnout, a study suggests. The new research from Florida State University revealed that helicopter parenting may lead to decreased self-control and difficulties in managing behavior and emotions among young adults. Helicopter parents tend to save their children from experiencing difficulties instead of helping their children learn how to overcome these obstacles. Therefore, children have fewer opportunities to practice self-control and manage their behavior and emotions. They are also more prone to experiencing burnout. To obtain the results, researchers gathered data from a survey involving over 400 18- to 29-year-old college students. Most of these students live separately from their parents. Using a self-accomplished questionnaire, the researchers measured parents’ involvement in the students’ experiences, the students’ ability to control their own actions, and the students’ levels of burnout. Responses to the survey revealed that children whose parents are overly involved feel stressed to meet their parents’ expectations. They lack self-motivation and often feel helpless, hopeless, and resentful. As a result, these children tend to exert less effort in their studies, causing them to get lower grades or even drop out of school. Ross May, one of the study’s authors, advises parents to reflect on how their parenting styles are affecting their children. He added that the negative effects of helicopter parenting can be prevented if parents evaluate their own behavior. Another author, Hayley Love, is calling on parents to give their children ample opportunities to practice independence. This can help children flourish and effectively combat the effects of stress.