The transitional nature of emerging adulthood has led to increase research on parenting during the third decade of life. This article principally presents the research trends and themes of parenting in the emerging adulthood field. A total of 2,088 articles on parenting in emerging adulthood were collected from the Web of Science (WoS) during the period 2000–2024, and a bibliometric approach was used. The findings demonstrate that the number of publications has increased since the year 2000; however, the growth has not been systematic, reflecting the diversity of academic disciplines. Furthermore, the study identifies five prominent thematic clusters and demonstrates the rich thematic diversity of parenting research in emerging adulthood, showing that certain topics have diminished, while others have emerged as potential areas of interest. Future studies will help to explore the research on parenting in adolescents, youth, and young adults too.
AlbannaB.HandlJ.HeeksR. (2021). Publication outperformance among global south researchers: An analysis of individual-level and publication-level predictors of positive deviance. Scientometrics, 126(10), 8375–8431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-04128-1
2.
AquilinoW. S. (1997). From adolescent to young adult: A prospective study of parent-child relations during the transition to adulthood. Journal of Marriage and Family, 59(3), 670–686. https://doi.org/10.2307/353953
3.
AriaM.CuccurulloC.D’AnielloL.MisuracaM.SpanoM. (2024). Comparative science mapping: A novel conceptual structure analysis with metadata. Scientometrics, 129(11), 7055–7081. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-024-05161-6
4.
ArnettJ. J. (2000a). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.55.5.469
5.
ArnettJ. J. (2000b). High hopes in a grim world: Emerging adults' views of their futures and “Generation X”. Youth & Society, 31(3), 267–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118x00031003001
6.
ArnettJ. J. (2001). Conceptions of the transition to adulthood: Perspectives from adolescence through midlife. Journal of adult development, 8(2), 133–143. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026450103225
7.
ArnettJ. J. (2008). The neglected 95%: Why American psychology needs to become less American. American Psychologist, 63(7), 602–614. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.63.7.602
8.
ArnettJ. J. (2023). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. Oxford University Press.
9.
ArnettJ. J.ŽukauskienėR.SugimuraK. (2014). The new life stage of emerging adulthood at ages 18–29 years: Implications for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(7), 569–576. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)00080-7
10.
BarryC. M.Padilla-WalkerL. M.MadsenS. D.NelsonL. J. (2008). The impact of maternal relationship quality on emerging adults’ prosocial tendencies: Indirect effects via regulation of prosocial values. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 37(5), 581–591. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9238-7
11.
BarryC. M.Padilla-WalkerL. M.NelsonL. J. (2012). The role of mothers and media on emerging adults’ religious faith and practices by way of internalization of prosocial values. Journal of Adult Development, 19(2), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-011-9135-x
12.
BartonA. L.KirtleyM. S. (2012). Gender differences in the relationships among parenting styles and college student mental health. Journal of American College Health, 60(1), 21–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2011.555933
13.
CarrV. M.FrancisA. P.WiethM. B. (2021). The relationship between helicopter parenting and fear of negative evaluation in college students. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(8), 1910–1919. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01999-z
14.
Census of India (2011). Rural urban distribution of population, provisional population total. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/
15.
ChassinL.PittsS. C.ProstJ. (2002). Binge drinking trajectories from adolescence to emerging adulthood in a high-risk sample: predictors and substance abuse outcomes. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 70(1), 67–78. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006X.70.1.67
16.
CoboM. J.López-HerreraA. G.Herrera-ViedmaE.HerreraF. (2012). SciMAT: A new science mapping analysis software tool. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 63(8), 1609–1630. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.22688
17.
CuiM.AllenJ. W.FinchamF. D.MayR. W.LoveH. (2019). Helicopter parenting, self-regulatory processes, and alcohol use among female college students. Journal of Adult Development, 26(2), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-018-9301-5
18.
CuiM.HongP.JiaoC. (2022). Overparenting and emerging adult development: A systematic review. Emerging Adulthood, 10(5), 1076–1094. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968221108828
19.
DicksonD. J.ShulmanS. (2016). Directions of effects between self-criticism and parental support on adaptive goal pursuit among emerging adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 327–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.06.018
20.
DonthuN.KumarS.MukherjeeD.PandeyN.LimW. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
21.
DoverC. R.WilloughbyB. J. (2024). Planning for parenthood: Using sociodemographic characteristics to predict expectations for the timing and number of children among emerging adults. Emerging Adulthood, 13(3), 636–647. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968241308685
22.
FingermanK. L.ChengY. P.WesselmannE. D.ZaritS.FurstenbergF.BirdittK. S. (2012). Helicopter parents and landing pad kids: Intense parental support of grown children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(4), 880–896. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.00987.x
23.
FrisénA.CarlssonJ.WängqvistM. (2014). Doesn’t Everyone Want That? It’s Just a Given” Swedish Emerging Adults’ expectations on future parenthood and work/family priorities. Journal of Adolescent Research, 29(1), 67–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558413502537
24.
GalambosN. L.BarkerE. T.KrahnH. J. (2006). Depression, self-esteem, and anger in emerging adulthood: Seven-year trajectories. Developmental Psychology, 42(2), 350–365. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.2.350
25.
HallingerP.KovačevićJ. (2022). Applying bibliometric review methods in education: Rationale, definitions, analytical techniques, and illustrations. In International encyclopedia of education (4th ed., pp. 546–556). Elsevier.
26.
HarzingA. W.AlakangasS. (2016). Google scholar, scopus and the web of science: A longitudinal and cross-disciplinary comparison. Scientometrics, 106(2), 787–804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1798-9
27.
HockR. S.HindinM. J.BassJ. K.SurkanP. J.BradshawC. P.MendelsonT. (2016). Parenting styles and emerging adult drug use in Cebu, the Philippines. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 9(2), 108–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2015.1091486
28.
IngugliaC.IngogliaS.LigaF.Lo CocoA.Lo CricchioM. G. (2015). Autonomy and relatedness in adolescence and emerging adulthood: Relationships with parental support and psychological distress. Journal of Adult Development, 22(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-014-9196-8
29.
JiaoJ.SegrinC. (2022). Overparenting and emerging adults’ insecure attachment with parents and romantic partners. Emerging Adulthood, 10(3), 725–730. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696821997710
LaibleD. J.CarloG.RoeschS. C. (2004). Pathways to self-esteem in late adolescence: The role of parent and peer attachment, empathy, and social behaviours. Journal of Adolescence, 27(6), 703–716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2004.05.005
32.
LeMoyneT.BuchananT. (2011). Does “hovering” matter? Helicopter parenting and its effect on well-being. Sociological Spectrum, 31(4), 399–418. https://doi.org/10.1080/02732173.2011.574038
33.
LindellA. K.Campione-BarrN.KillorenS. E. (2017). Implications of parent–child relationships for emerging adults’ subjective feelings about adulthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(7), 810–820. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000328
34.
LuebbeA. M.ManciniK. J.KielE. J.SpanglerB. R.SemlakJ. L.FussnerL. M. (2018). Dimensionality of helicopter parenting and relations to emotional, decision-making, and academic functioning in emerging adults. Assessment, 25(7), 841–857. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191116665907
35.
LuyckxK.SoenensB.VansteenkisteM.GoossensL.BerzonskyM. D. (2007). Parental psychological control and dimensions of identity formation in emerging adulthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(3), 546–550. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.3.546
36.
MaisonobeM.GrossettiM.MilardB.EckertD.JégouL. (2016). L’évolution mondiale des réseaux de collaborations scientifiques entre villes: des échelles multiples. Revue Française de Sociologie, 57(3), 417–441. https://doi.org/10.3917/rfs.573.0417
37.
MaityI.RoyU.GhoshL. (2025). Influence of parenting in mental health among emerging adulthood: Trajectories of flourishing and floundering. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 51(1), 255–270.
38.
MastenA. S.BurtK. B.RoismanG. I.ObradovićJ.LongJ. D.TellegenA. (2004). Resources and resilience in the transition to adulthood: Continuity and change. Development and psychopathology, 16(4), 1071–1094. https://doi.org/10.10170S0954579404040143
McCoyS. S.DimlerL. M.RodriguesL. (2024). Parenting in overdrive: A meta-analysis of helicopter parenting across multiple indices of emerging adult functioning. Journal of Adult Development, 32(3), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-024-09496-5
41.
McKayM. (2006). Parenting practices in emerging adulthood: Development of a new measure. Brigham Young University.
42.
McLeanK. C.PrattM. W. (2006). Life’s little (and big) lessons: identity statuses and meaning-making in the turning point narratives of emerging adults. Developmental psychology, 42(4), 714–722. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.4.714
43.
MehoL. I.YangK. (2006). A new era in citation and bibliometric analyses: Web of science, scopus, and google scholar. arXiv preprint cs/0612132.
44.
MianoP.PalumboA. (2021). Overparenting hurts me: How does it affect offspring psychological outcomes?Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 9(3), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.13129/2282-1619/mjcp-3081
45.
NelsonL. J.Padilla-WalkerL. M.ChristensenK. J.EvansC. A.CarrollJ. S. (2011). Parenting in emerging adulthood: An examination of parenting clusters and correlates. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(6), 730–743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9584-8
46.
NelsonL. J.Padilla-WalkerL. M.McLeanR. D. (2021). Longitudinal predictors of helicopter parenting in emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 9(3), 240–251. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696820931980
47.
NelsonL. J.Padilla-WalkerL. M.NielsonM. G. (2015). Is hovering smothering or loving? An examination of parental warmth as a moderator of relations between helicopter parenting and emerging adults’ indices of adjustment. Emerging Adulthood, 3(4), 282–285. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696815576458
48.
Padilla-WalkerL. M.NelsonL. J. (2012). Black hawk down? Establishing helicopter parenting as a distinct construct from other forms of parental control during emerging adulthood. Journal of Adolescence, 35(5), 1177–1190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.03.007
49.
Padilla-WalkerL. M.NelsonL. J. (2019). Parenting emerging adults. In Handbook of parenting (pp. 168–190). Routledge.
50.
Padilla-WalkerL. M.NelsonL. J.KnappD. J. (2014). “Because I’m still the parent, that’s why!” parental legitimate authority during emerging adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31(3), 293–313. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407513494949
51.
Padilla-WalkerL. M.SonD.NelsonL. J. (2021). Profiles of helicopter parenting, parental warmth, and psychological control during emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 9(2), 132–144. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696818823626
52.
PinquartM. (2017). Associations of parenting dimensions and styles with externalizing problems of children and adolescents: An updated meta-analysis. Developmental Psychology, 53(5), 873–932. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000295
53.
RavertR. D.StoddardN. A.DonnellanM. B. (2018). A content analysis of the methods used to study emerging adults in six developmental journals from 2013 to 2015. Emerging Adulthood, 6(3), 151–158. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696817720011
54.
ReedK.DuncanJ. M.Lucier-GreerM.FixelleC.FerraroA. J. (2016). Helicopter parenting and emerging adult self-efficacy: Implications for mental and physical health. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(10), 3136–3149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0466-x
55.
ReitmanD.AsseffJ. (2010). Parenting practices and their relation to anxiety in young adulthood. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24(6), 565–572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.03.016
56.
RodriguezC. M.PuD. F.FoilesA. R. (2019). Cognitive-affective pathways to child depressive and anxious symptoms: Role of children’s discipline attributions. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 50(1), 163–171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-018-0831-7
57.
SchiffrinH. H.ErchullM. J.SendrickE.YostJ. C.PowerV.SaldanhaE. R. (2019). The effects of maternal and paternal helicopter parenting on the self-determination and well-being of emerging adults. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(12), 3346–3359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01513-6
58.
SchiffrinH. H.LissM. (2017). The effects of helicopter parenting on academic motivation. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(5), 1472–1480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0658-z
59.
SchwartzS. J. (2016). Turning point for a turning point: Advancing emerging adulthood theory and research. Emerging Adulthood, 4(5), 307–317. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696815624640
60.
SegrinC.FloraJ. (2019). Fostering social and emotional intelligence: What are the best current strategies in parenting?Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 13(3), Article e12439. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12439
61.
ShaferK.JefferyN. (2022). Fathering adolescents and emerging adults. In Handbook of the psychology of fatherhood (pp. 111–133). Springer International Publishing.
62.
ShimS.BarberB. L.CardN. A.XiaoJ. J.SeridoJ. (2010). Financial socialization of first-year college students: The roles of parents, work, and education. Journal of youth and adolescence, 39(12), 1457–1470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9432-x
63.
SmoutA.LazarusR. S.HudsonJ. L. (2020). The relationship between parenting and anxiety in emerging adulthood. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 44(1), 182–195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-019-10037-8
SteeleE. H.McKinneyC. (2019). Emerging adult psychological problems and parenting style: Moderation by parent-child relationship quality. Personality and Individual Differences, 146, 201–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.04.048
67.
Suárez-OrozcoC.YoshikawaH.TeranishiR.Suárez-OrozcoM. (2011). Growing up in the shadows: The developmental implications of unauthorized status. Harvard Educational Review, 81(3), 438–473. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.81.3.g23x203763783m75
68.
SwansonJ. A. (2016). Trends in literature about emerging adulthood: Review of empirical studies. Emerging Adulthood, 4(6), 391–402. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696816630468
69.
SyedM.MitchellL. L. (2013). Race, ethnicity, and emerging adulthood: Retrospect and prospects. Emerging Adulthood, 1(2), 83–95. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696813480503
70.
Tello-NavarroF.BastiasL. S.Hernandez-GonzalezO. (2023). Evolution and research trends about emerging adulthood: A bibliometric analysis. Emerging Adulthood, 12(2), 252–263. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968231222431
71.
TennantJ. P. (2020). Web of science and scopus are not global databases of knowledge. European Science Editing, 46, Article e51987. https://doi.org/10.3897/ese.2020.e51987
72.
ThalmayerA. G.ToscanelliC.ArnettJ. J. (2021). The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American?American Psychologist, 76(1), 116–129. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000622
73.
Van EckN.WaltmanL. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3
74.
Van EckN. J.WaltmanL. (2007). VOS: A new method for visualizing similarities between objects. In Advances in Data Analysis: Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference of the Gesellschaft für Klassifikation eV, Freie Universität Berlin (pp. 299–306). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
75.
VigdalJ. S.BrønnickK. K. (2022). A systematic review of “helicopter parenting” and its relationship with anxiety and depression. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 872981. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.872981
WhiteH. R.McMorrisB. J.CatalanoR. F.FlemingC. B.HaggertyK. P.AbbottR. D. (2006). Increases in alcohol and marijuana use during the transition out of high school into emerging adulthood: The effects of leaving home, going to college, and high school protective factors. Journal of studies on alcohol, 67(6), 810–822. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.2006.67.810
78.
WiderW.FauziM. A.GanS. W.YapC. C.KhadriM. W. A. B. A.MaidinS. S. (2023). A bibliometric analysis of emerging adulthood in the context of higher education institutions: A psychological perspectives. Heliyon, 9(6), e16988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16988
XieH.ZhangY.ChoiY.LiF. (2020). A scientometrics review on land ecosystem service research. Sustainability, 12(7), 2959. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072959
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
