Abstract (eng)
The present work investigates the possible connection between the parenting behavior helicopter parenting and the perception of autonomy-connectedness in emerging adults in Austria, Germany and Chile. Particular attention was paid to cultural and gender-related differences. With the help of an online questionnaire, emerging adults who were studying in the three countries were asked about socio-economic data, the helicopter parenting behavior of their parents and their autonomy-connectedness. The survey of the behavior of the helicopter parents as well as the survey for the autonomy-connectedness was carried out by means of a self-report by the emerging adults. The present sample consists of 414 emerging adults, where the specified age was between 18 and 29 years. 63% of the total sample were female, 35.7% male and 1.5% diverse. The results of the study showed that emerging adults in all countries rated helicopter parenting behavior significantly higher for their mothers than for their fathers. The reported maternal and paternal helicopter parenting behavior had the highest values in Chile. In addition, male participants rated the maternal helicopter behavior significantly higher than the female participants. For autonomy-connectedness, the maternal helicopter parenting behavior showed an influence on the two subscales Sensitivity to others (SO) and Capacity for managing new situations (CMNS). Emerging adults who reported higher values in perceived maternal helicopter parenting behavior also stated higher values for the SO subscale, but lower values for the CMNS subscale. The paternal helicopter parenting showed a significant influence on the subscale Self-awareness (SA). If the emerging adults reported high values for paternal helicopter parenting behavior, they achieved lower values for the SA subscale.