The Relationship Between Levels of Social Anxiety, Self-Confidence, and Social Interaction and Perceptions of Helicopter Parenting Among Emerging Adults

Abstract

Parenting in the form of helicopter parenting is generally triggered by a high level of parental anxiety from childhood through emerging adulthood, a period that requires increasing independence in educational, career, and social relationship domains. However, overly controlling and protective parenting can negatively affect an individual’s emotional and social development, leading to increased social anxiety, decreased self-confidence, and barriers to effective social interaction. This study aims to determine the relationship between social anxiety levels, self-confidence, and social interaction with perceptions of helicopter parenting among emerging adults. The study employed a quantitative correlational approach involving 210 participants aged 18–25 years who were selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using the Helicopter Parenting Instrument (HPI), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS-6), Social Phobia Scale (SPS-6), as well as self-confidence and social interaction scales. The results showed that the levels of helicopter parenting, social anxiety, self-confidence, and social interaction were in the moderate category. Social anxiety had a significant positive relationship with perceptions of helicopter parenting (r = 0.411; p < 0.05), while self-confidence (r = -0.242; p < 0.05) and social interaction (r = -0.286; p < 0.05) had significant negative relationships. The higher the level of social anxiety, the higher the perception of helicopter parenting; conversely, higher levels of self-confidence and social interaction were associated with lower perceptions of helicopter parenting. Further research is suggested to incorporate interview methods, involve a more diverse age range, and conduct offline questionnaire distribution to minimize respondent.