Development and Validation of Helicopter Parenting Scale: Experience of Pakistani Adolescents

Parenting facilitates the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of an adolescent. The current study explored the experience and manifestation of helicopter parenting in adolescents. In Phase I, key components of Perceived Helicopter Parenting were elicited from 40 adolescents (20 boys and 20 girls) aged 13–18 years, using open-ended phenomenological approach. In Phase II, the Content Validity Index of items and scales was established. In Phase III, pilot study was carried out on 20 adolescents (10 girls and 10 boys). In Phase IV, a sample of 300 adolescents (50% boys and 50% girls) aged 13–18 years (M=14.74; SD= 1.15) were tested to establish psychometric properties of Perceived Helicopter Parenting Scale along with Early Memories of Upbringing Scale EMBU-C (Mother & Father). The Exploratory Factor Analysis extracted two factors: namely restricting social activities and dominance & control. Moreover, findings indicated high internal consistency, split-half reliability, and construct validity. The factors of perceived helicopter parenting (mother & father) are discussed in the light of cultural context.