Overprotective Parenting Hinders College Students’ Coping Skills

A study of 240 first-year college students found that those with highly controlling “helicopter” parents experience significantly more anxiety when facing common stressors. The effect was not due to general parenting quality, as parental warmth did not buffer students from stress-related anxiety. Overprotective parenting may inhibit the development of coping mechanisms and emotional regulation, leaving students unprepared for the independence of college life. The research suggests that allowing children to handle age-appropriate challenges can better prepare them for the mental health demands of the college transition. (Story URL)