Exploring Relationship of Helicopter Parenting with Social-Emotional Competence and Decision Making Styles among Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among helicopter parenting, social-emotional competence, and decision-making styles (intuitive style and rational style) in adolescents. Method: This study employed a cross-sectional correlational design. The sample consisted of 800 students recruited through a convenient sampling technique. 400 males and 400 females from Secondary and Higher Secondary classes were used in this study, from both the government and private sectors of Gujrat, Pakistan. Helicopter Parenting Behaviors Questionnaire (Schiffirin et al., 2013), Social-emotional Competency Questionnaire (Zhou & Ee, 2012), and Decision Styles Scale (Hamilton et al., 2016) are the self-report questionnaires used for this study. Findings: Mother Helicopter Parenting Behaviors have a significant positive relationship with social-emotional competence, intuitive decision style, and rational decision style. Father Helicopter Parenting Behaviors are significantly positively correlated with social-emotional competence, rational and intuitive decision styles. The findings showed that perceived helicopter parenting behaviors are higher in females than males. Females have higher social-emotional competence and rational decision styles than males. No significant differences in intuitive decision style are present. Conclusion: Culture plays a significant role in positive perception of helicopter parenting behaviors, development of social-emotional competence, and decision-making skills among adolescents. In a country with a collectivist culture like Pakistan, Helicopter Parenting is viewed as a positive parenting approach and has positive impacts on adolescents.

Keywords:  Helicopter Parenting, Social-Emotional Competence, Rational Decision Style, Intuitive Decision Style, Adolescence, Collectivism