Japanese parents’ perceptions of children’s overnight camping: the relationship between sense of psychological resistance and parental attitudes

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine parental sense of psychological resistance toward children’s participation in sleepover camping and to determine the relationship with parenting attitudes, especially focused on anxiety and interfering tendencies toward children. Data were collected by mail survey from 452 parents who had children under 23 years old. The survey included demographic factors, 24 items measuring Sense of Psychological Resistance and 20 items examining anxiety and interfering tendencies of parents. The results indicated that some parents had a sense of psychological resistance towards the ‘Environmental Concern’ and ‘Counselor’ factors. Also, parents with high anxiety and interfering tendencies showed a higher sense of psychological resistance to their children’s participation in sleepover camping than those with low anxiety and interfering tendencies. Recommendations for research and practice are provided.