Helicopter Parenting as a Predictor of Academic Achievement and Life Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults at University: A Meta-Analytic Path Analysis Based on Self-Determination Theory

Abstract

Existing literature on helicopter parenting's impact on academic achievement and life satisfaction among emerging adults shows significant variability in findings. To address these inconsistencies, this study applies self-determination theory to examine helicopter parenting as a predictor of these outcomes among university students. Using meta-analytic structural equation modeling based on data from 28 studies (29 samples, n = 9,214), the analysis found that helicopter parenting is significantly associated with lower satisfaction and increased frustration of psychological needs. These factors negatively affected life satisfaction and academic performance. The model explained 10% of the variance in academic performance and 26% in life satisfaction, supporting key hypotheses. This study contributes to the parenting literature by synthesizing the effects of helicopter parenting on these outcomes among emerging adults. By applying self-determination theory, the research provides a framework that clarifies the direct impact of helicopter parenting on psychological needs satisfaction and frustration. This analysis not only reconciles previous inconsistencies in the literature but also highlights the importance of psychological needs in understanding the effects of parenting styles, advancing our knowledge of the relationship between parenting behaviors and developmental outcomes in young adults.