The impact of helicopter parenting attitudes on individuals' anxiety levels

This study was conducted to examine the impact of helicopter parenting attitudes on individuals' anxiety levels. Helicopter parenting is a parenting style characterized by excessive involvement of parents in their children's developmental processes and has been frequently discussed in the psychological literature in recent years. The study investigates how these attitudes are associated with individuals' anxiety levels, with a particular focus on the potential relationship with anxiety symptoms. The research was designed within the framework of a correlational survey model and conducted using quantitative methods. The population of the study consisted of individuals in Türkiye with varying ages and socio-demographic characteristics. The sample included a total of 164 individuals who voluntarily participated through both online and face-to-face data collection methods and were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 60 and represented a heterogeneous group in terms of gender, marital status, education, and income levels. Three primary instruments were used during the data collection process. A Socio-Demographic Information Form was employed to gather demographic data, the Helicopter Parenting Attitude Scale (mother and father forms) was used to assess parenting styles, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory was utilized to measure anxiety levels. All instruments used were Turkish versions whose psychometric validity and reliability had previously been confirmed. The data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27. The analyses revealed that helicopter parenting attitudes perceived by individuals during childhood and adolescence—particularly those involving interventions in emotional autonomy and basic life skills—significantly predicted anxiety levels in adulthood. The findings suggest that helicopter parenting plays a critical role not only in the parent-child relationship but also in shaping individuals' long-term psychological well-being, emphasizing that such attitudes may pose a risk to mental health.