As college students leave fall semester in the rear view mirror, spring semester sparkles with the excitement of new classes and experiences.\u00a0\u00a0 But students whose parents have a difficult time cutting ties may face an unexpected burden.<\/p>\n
A new study by sociology faculty at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga says \u201chelicopter parenting\u201d a college-aged child may be the most damaging time to over-parent or micromanage an offspring\u2019s life.\u00a0 Some college administrators are worried enough about this phenomenon that they\u2019ve spent precious funds to hire staff to deal with the adverse effects, according to the study.<\/p>\n
Dr. Terri LeMoyne and Dr. Tom Buchanan surveyed 317 students in general education classes who ranged from 18 to 25 years old.\u00a0 They found helicopter parenting is \u201cnegatively related to psychological well-being and positively related to prescription medication use for anxiety\/depression and the recreational consumption of pain pills.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes \u2018Hovering\u2019 Matter? Helicopter Parenting and Its Effect on Well-Being\u201d was published in Sociological Spectrum <\/em>(July\/August <\/em>2011)<\/em><\/p>\n LeMoyne and Buchanan focused their study on students of the Millennial generation.\u00a0 Born between 1982 and 1995, some experts believe these are the children who are most protected by their parents.<\/p>\n Helicopter parenting doesn\u2019t sound like a good thing, but the UTC researchers wanted evidence. LeMoyne and Buchanan acknowledge this over-involvement in children\u2019s lives does not begin in college, but early in a child\u2019s life.\u00a0 As the child grows, the researchers are interested in the sociological implications, for instance, the effects of helicopter parenting on a child\u2019s decision making process in college and later as they enter the work force.<\/p>\n Their survey inquired about the well-being of these students, asking how the students felt they were functioning.\u00a0 Were they organized, socially adjusted, achieving goals?<\/p>\n \u201cWe found persistent anxiety and depression were more likely among those who experienced helicopter parenting,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n The study explains that parents tend to exert the most influence in areas of education and future competitiveness.\u00a0 Sometimes their college-age children are happy to have their parents\u2019 assistance.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have observed that when college students have trouble with a class or a grade, instead of handling the situation themselves, they sick their parents on their professors,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n The researchers have also observed students struggle when they must think on their own.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my classes, I see students who need way more instruction than they used to, they have a much more difficult time working independently.\u00a0 If they are not given instruction to the letter they keep coming back for more direction–they want study guides, they want the answers to essays.\u00a0 They are very anxious when they face uncertainties,\u201d Buchanan said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As college students leave fall semester in the rear view mirror, spring semester sparkles with the excitement of new classes and experiences.\u00a0\u00a0 But students whose parents have a difficult time cutting ties may face an unexpected burden.<\/p>\n