This study aimed to investigate the associations between helicopter parenting (HP), dual autonomy, and friendship quality among Chinese high school students. We collected survey data from 959 Chinese high school students and their parents, with separate measures of paternal, maternal and adolescents’ perceptions of HP, as well as measures of adolescents’ dual autonomy and friendship quality. Results showed that (1) paternal, maternal and adolescents’ perceptions of HP were positively associated with adolescents’ friendship quality. (2) Both paternal and adolescents’ perceptions of HP were positively associated with adolescents’ dual autonomy, while no significant association was found between maternal HP and adolescents’ dual autonomy. (3) Relating autonomy was positively associated with friendship quality, while no significant association was found between individuating autonomy and friendship quality. (4) Relating autonomy mediated the relation between paternal HP and adolescents’ friendship quality, and between adolescents’ perceptions of HP and friendship quality.
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