Helicopter Parenting and Resilience Among Malaysian Chinese University Students: The Mediating Role of Fear of Negative Evaluation

Abstract

Resilience is defined as the ability to bounce back from adversity. Life challenges are present in all stages of human development, including the stage of emerging adulthood. Being resilient is crucial to cope with these challenges. Existing studies have revealed that parenting styles have a significant impact on one’s resilience level. Nevertheless, the impact of a specific parenting style, particularly helicopter parenting on resilience has not been extensively studied in Malaysia. In addition, the underlying mechanism of the relationship between helicopter parenting and resilience is also under-examined, though it is suggested that fear of negative evaluation may play a mediating role in it. A cross-sectional design was employed to examine the relationship between helicopter parenting and resilience, as well as the mediating role of fear of negative evaluation in the relationship among Malaysian Chinese university students. A survey questionnaire including the Helicopter Parenting Scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and Brief Resilience Scale was answered by 204 participants. Results indicated that helicopter parenting predicts resilience, and the relationship is partially mediated by fear of negative evaluation. This study sheds light on how university students’ resilience level could be promoted by reducing the fear of negative evaluation. The result of the study could be useful in promoting greater resiliency and reducing the negative effect of helicopter parenting among university students, by lessening the fear of negative evaluation.