Overparenting and psychological well‐being of emerging adult children in the United States and China

• Published date: 01 December 2023
• Author: Peipei Hong,Ming Cui
• Date: 01 December 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12839

RESEARCH

Overparenting and psychological well-being of

emerging adult children in the United States and

China

Peipei Hong

1

|Ming Cui

2

1

Department of Psychology and Behavioral

Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China

2

Department of Human Development and

Family Science, Florida State University,

Tallahassee, FL

Correspondence Peipei Hong, Department of

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang

University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310028,

China.

Email: peipeihong@zju.edu.cn

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate (a) the associa-

tion between overparenting and emerging-adult children’s

psychological maladjustment through basic psychological

needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and related-

ness) and (b) whether the associations, particularly the

associations between overparenting and needs satisfaction,

vary by cultures.

Background: Research in Western countries suggests that

overparenting may undermine emerging-adult children’s

psychological well-being. This raises the question of

whether overparenting influences emerging adults in a sim-

ilar way in the collectivistic cultures in Eastern countries

where overparenting may be perceived differently.

Method: Survey data were obtained from college students

in the United States (N=414, M

age

=20.38) and China

(N=612, M

age

=20.21).

Results: Structural equation modeling yielded two major

findings. First, largely in line with the view of cultural uni-

versalism, in both the United States and China, over-

parenting was linked to emerging adults’psychological

maladjustment through lower basic needs satisfaction. Sec-

ond, supporting the view of cultural relativism, the nega-

tive relations between maternal overparenting and needs

satisfaction were stronger in the United States than in

China.

Conclusion: Overparenting was associated with emerging-

adult children’s lower basic needs satisfaction and more

well-being problems; however, the strength of the associa-

tion between overparenting and needs satisfaction varied

across cultures.

Implications.: The principle of universalism without unifor-

mity applies to overparenting.

Received: 7 October 2021Revised: 1 November 2022Accepted: 26 December 2022

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12839

© 2023 National Council on Family Relations.

2852 Family Relations. 2023;72:2852–2868.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare

KEYWORDS

basic psychological needs satisfaction, cross-culture, emerging adults,

overparenting, psychological well-being

There is an ongoing investigation of whether the associations between parenting practices and

child outcomes vary by culture. Cultural universalism tends to endorse a cultural-invariant view

(e.g., self-determination theory; Ryan & Deci, 2017). Cultural relativism, on the other hand,

contends that the influences of parental behaviors on child development are more culturally

specific (e.g., cultural normativeness hypothesis; Deater-Deckard & Dodge, 1997). In recent

years, the phenomenon of overparenting has drawn increasing attention of researchers from

both Western and Eastern cultures. Overparenting is conceptualized as a unique constellation

of two basic parenting dimensions—responsiveness/support and demandingness/control—

presented in an “over”manner (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). Overparenting behaviors are

characterized by excessive parental involvement, developmentally inappropriate control and

tangible assistance, risk aversion, and anticipatory problem solving by the parents (Segrin

et al., 2012). Research in Western countries, particularly in the United States, suggests that

overparenting is associated with emerging adults’psychological well-being problems (for a sys-

tematic review, see Cui et al., 2022). This raises the question of whether the same association

exists in the collectivistic culture in Eastern countries, particularly in China where child-focused,

intensive parenting is a norm (Doepke & Zilibotti, 2019; Li & Wen, 2021). Addressing this

question can shed light on a broader inquiry as to whether the influences of overparenting are

more culturally universal or culturally specific.

On the basis of self-determination theory and cultural normativeness hypothesis, the current

study compared the associations between overparenting and emerging-adult children’spsycholog-

ical maladjustment through satisfaction of basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence,

and relatedness in two cultures, one from the West and one from the East—the United States and

China. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are regarded as universal needs for humankind

that are essential for individual wellness and functioning (Ryan & Deci, 2017). It is unclear if

overparenting affects autonomy, relatedness, and competence needs satisfaction to the same

degree between theUnited States and China. Given the distinct cultural modes between the

United States and China, the cultural comparison can expand the current United States bounded

understanding of overparenting, promoting a fine-grained, more holistic understanding of the

implications of overparenting for emerging-adult developmentacross cultures.

OVERPARENTING AND EMERGING ADULT CHILDREN’S

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Overparenting is defined as parents being overinvolved and overcontrolling through behaviors

such as providing too much care and protection for their children, intervening in every aspect of

their children’s lives (e.g., social and personal relationships), helping their children solve prob-

lems or clear obstacles, and making decisions on behalf of their children on various matters.

During emerging adulthood—a life stage of instability, possibilities, feeling in-between, identity

explorations, and self-focus (i.e., a sense of freedom, independence, and responsibility;

Arnett, 2015)—overparenting, sometimes labeled as helicopter parenting, is believed to be par-

ticularly detrimental compared with earlier developmental periods. Overparenting is argued to

obstruct emerging adults’needs for greater autonomy and to interfere with their developmental

tasks in the transition to adulthood (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). Indeed, a growing body

of research has linked overparenting to emerging adults’psychological maladjustment, such as

greater depressive and anxiety symptoms and lower life satisfaction (Cui et al., 2022).

OVERPARENTING IN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA2853