Influence of Helicopter Parenting on Learned Helplessness and Decision-Making Styles Among Young Adults

Title of the project:  Influence of Helicopter Parenting on Learned Helplessness and Decision-Making Styles Among Young Adults

**Aim:**To examine how helicopter parenting influences learned helplessness and decision-making styles in young adults.

Objectives:

Primary**:** To evaluate the impact of childhood helicopter parenting on learned helplessness and decision-making styles.

Secondary**:** To explore gender differences in how helicopter parenting affects these outcomes.

The study addresses a gap in research on helicopter parenting’s effects on learned helplessness and decision-making in young adults, especially in the Indian context. It explores how overparenting may hinder autonomy, foster maladaptive patterns, and vary across genders due to cultural expectations, aiming to inform more supportive parenting strategies.

This study following the approval from the Department of Clinical Psychology at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Institutional Review Committee (IRC) and Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) approval, will be registered with the Clinical Trials Registry–India (CTRI). Using convenience sampling, data will be collected both online and offline through voluntary participation and anonymity will be maintained by excluding personal identifiers. Young adults ranging from  age 18-25, including students from Manipal Academy of Higher Education will be used as the sample for the study and will be approached through various communication channels such as face-to-face communication, email, social media and student groups. Participants who meet the criteria will be presented with a Google form consisting of a consent form, socio-demographic details form, and three questionnaires: the Helicopter Parenting Scale, Learned Helplessness Scale, and Decision Styles Questionnaire.

Data collection will continue until the determined sample size of 182 participants have been achieved (Group with Perceived Parental Helicopter Parenting = 91. Group without Perceived Parental Helicopter Parenting = 91)