Helicopter parenting, perceived parental distress, and academic self-efficacy among high school adolescents
Social Determinants of Health,
Vol. 12 (2026),
1 January 2026
,
Page 1-9
https://doi.org/10.22037/sdh.v12i1.53208
Abstract
Background: Academic self-efficacy (ASE) is a fundamental driver of student success; however, it remains highly susceptible to intrusive family dynamics, including helicopter parenting and perceived parental distress. The present study investigated how overparenting (helicopter parenting) and subjective parental distress relate to ASE among Iranian secondary school students.
Method: Utilizing a descriptive-correlational framework, the target group comprised all enrolled adolescents in Mahshahr during the 2025–2026 academic year. A multi-stage cluster strategy yielded a final cohort of 309 participants. Information was gathered via validated instruments assessing academic self-efficacy, helicopter parenting, and adolescent-reported parental stress. Analyses were performed using Pearson correlation and simultaneous multiple regression in SPSS.
Results: Descriptive statistics indicated mean scores of 28.59 (SD=11.56) for ASE, 40.17 (SD=7.46) for helicopter parenting, and 108.18 (SD=19.31) for perceived parental distress (as indexed by the Parenting Stress Index). Bivariate calculations demonstrated inverse relationships between ASE and both helicopter parenting (r=-0.48, P<0.01) and perceived parental stress (r=-0.42, P<0.01). Furthermore, simultaneous multiple regression yielded a robust model (F=64.05, P<0.01), explaining 29.5% of the variance in ASE (R²=0.295). Both helicopter parenting (β=-0.38, P<0.01) and perceived parental distress (β=-0.27, P<0.01) proved to be meaningful negative predictors of student self-efficacy.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that lower levels of perceived parental over-involvement and perceived parental distress are associated with higher adolescent ASE. Family-centered educational interventions that promote healthy, autonomy-supportive parenting practices may enhance students’ academic well-being and warrant further investigation.
- Adolescent
- Parenting
- Psychological Distress
- Self-efficacy
How to Cite
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