The Mediating Role of Self-Control in the Relationship Between Helicopter Parenting and Smartphone Addiction in Emerging Adult Students

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master student, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Master of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Science and Medical Technologies, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.

10.48308/apsy.2025.237315.1718

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-control in the relationship between helicopter parenting and smartphone addiction in emerging adult students.
Methods: The research was conducted using a descriptive-correlational design, specifically structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included all university students in Tehran. Due to the large size of the population, it was not possible to determine the exact number. A total of 470 students were selected through convenience sampling, following Klein's recommendation. To collect data, the Helicopter Parenting Questionnaire (Pistella, 2020), the Smartphone Addiction Scale (Kwon, 2013), and the Short Form of the Self-Control Scale (Tangney, 2004) were used. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with SPSS and AMOS software.
Results: The findings indicated a strong positive correlation between helicopter parenting and smartphone addiction (P<0.01), and a significant negative correlation between helicopter parenting and self-control (P<0.01). Structural equation modeling (SEM) results further revealed that self-control mediates the relationship between helicopter parenting and smartphone addiction (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Helicopter parenting contributes to smartphone addiction in students by hindering their self-control. Enhancing students' self-control skills could help lessen the negative impacts of this parenting style and decrease the risk of addiction.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Applied Psychology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 January 2025

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