Possible result of extreme parenting: Power of helicopter parenting attitude to predict ego inflation

Abstract

The concept of helicopter parenting is used to describe a parental disposition that is excessively child-oriented, intrusive and limiting to child’s autonomy. It is characterized by parents being overly concerned about child's future, making great efforts to avoid possible negative outcomes, preferring to plan and handle child’s life and even executing child’s tasks in his/her place. The objective of this study is to establish the relation between helicopter parental attitudes and ego inflation. The Perceived Helicopter Parental Attitude Scale and Ego Inflation Scale were applied to 432 people with an age group of 24-34 years. Hypotheses of the study were tested using structural equation modelling after results related to the fit values and factor loads of the scales were determined to be appropriate and adequate. The study found that 42.80 percent of the change in the inflated ego reported in young adults can be explained by a helicopter maternal attitude (R2 = .43). Helicopter paternal attitude accounted for 22.10 percent of the change in the inflated ego observed in young adults (R2 = .22). It has, thus, been demonstrated that ego inflation is triggered by helicopter parental attitudes and helicopter attitudes of mothers are more successful in creating ego inflation than those of fathers. We hope that the findings of the present study can be used in parent education and family counselling practices.