RESUMEN

We examined how maternal and paternal parental control (helicopter parenting, behavioral control, and psychological control) among college students are related to their depressive symptoms. We collected data from college students who attended a private university in Upstate New York (n = 455) and analyzed it using three-step latent class analysis. Latent class analysis identified four parental control latent classes: weak parental control, strong psychological control, strong helicopter parenting, and strong parental control. College students in the weak parental control class reported lower depressive symptoms than those in strong psychological control and strong parental control classes. In addition, college students in the strong helicopter parenting class reported lower depressive symptoms than those in strong psychological control and strong parental control classes. College students' depressive symptoms were not significantly different between weak parental control and strong helicopter parenting classes. Future researchers are encouraged to continue to acknowledge the characteristics of different forms of parental control and their influence on college students' quality of life in the transition to adulthood, considering the unique approaches of both parents.

Asunto(s)

Depresión , Calidad de Vida , Humanos , Depresión/epidemiología , Depresión/psicología , Análisis de Clases Latentes , Estudiantes/psicología , Padres/psicología , Responsabilidad Parental/psicología

RESUMEN

Introduction: We aimed to uncover latent classes of maternal and paternal helicopter parenting among American and Korean college students and to examine whether latent classes of maternal and paternal helicopter parenting are associated with parent- child relationships. Methods: We conducted three-step latent class analyses using five helicopter parenting indicators for 433 mother-child and 401 father-child groups in the United States and 207 mother-child and 195 father-child groups in South Korea. Results: We identified the same three helicopter parenting latent classes (strong, weak, and managed) in mother-child and father-child groups in the United States and Korea. In addition, we found that American and Korean college students in strong and managed helicopter parenting latent classes reported better parent- child relationships than those in the weak class regardless of parents' gender. Discussion: Our findings indicate that helicopter parenting is multidimensional and can be similarly interpreted by college students in Western and Eastern societies. Further, our findings suggest that helicopter parenting could be helpful for college students to establish an intimate relationship with their parents.