An examination of helicopter parenting and digital parenting attitudes in relation to adolescents' technology use and interest in class

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between helicopter and digital parenting attitudes and technology use and interest in class among adolescents. Material and Method: This correlational and cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2024. The population of the study consisted of students from 24 high schools located in the central district of Ağrı. The sample consisted of 430 students selected by simple random sampling from 3 high schools determined by a stratified sampling method to represent the population. The study was completed with 390 students. The study data were collected using the "Introductory Information Form", "Perceived Helicopter Parenting Attitude Scale", "Digital Parenting Attitude Scale", "Information Technology Usage Scale", and "Course Interest Scale". In the analysis of the data, descriptive analyses, independent groups t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation, and regression analysis were used in the SPSS (version 26) package software. Analyses were based on a significance level of p<0.05 (95% confidence interval). Findings: While 62.82% of the adolescents participating in the study were female, 67.18% had an income equal to their expenses. The study found that adolescents' perceived helicopter parenting and digital parenting attitudes, and their level of information technology use, were moderate, and their interest in class was low. It was determined that as the level of helicopter parenting attitudes increased, the level of use of information technologies also increased (p<0.05). It was determined that there was no correlation between adolescents' digital parenting attitudes, information technology usage levels, and interest in class (p>0.05). Conclusion: It was found that as the father's helicopter parenting attitude, 'basic trust and life skills' attitude increased, the adolescent's cognitive interest in the lesson decreased. It was determined that as the digital parenting attitude increased, the use of information technology devices and applications, which are the sub-dimensions of information technology use, and the preference for virtual life decreased. It was found that as adolescents' digital game playing and virtual life preferences increased, their affective interest in the course increased. Keywords: Lesson, adolescent, parenting, helicopter, interest, technology, attitude