Relationship between Helicopter Parenting and Chinese Elementary School Child Procrastination: A Mediated Moderation Model

Abstract

Background: The family environment is essential for elementary school children’s development. With smartphone penetration into all aspects of people’s lives, how parenting affects children’s behavior may show new patterns. Objective: This study constructed a mediated moderation model, focusing on the mediating role of child self-control and parental phubbing to clarify the relationship between helicopter parenting (over-parenting) and child procrastination and its mechanisms. Methods: The Smartphone Addiction Scale for Chinese Adults, Brief Self-Control Scale, Over-Parenting Questionnaire, and Short General Procrastination Scale were employed to investigate 562 elementary school-age children and their parents. Results: After data analysis, this study showed the following: (1) helicopter parenting was significantly and positively related to child self-control, child procrastination, and parental smartphone use; (2) child self-control partially mediated the relationship between helicopter parenting and child procrastination; and (3) pathways between helicopter parenting and child self-control were moderated by mother-phubbing behavior. Conclusion: These findings inform parents of their roles in family education.