2008 Woodie Awards
Hovering parents have happier students
By: Robin Nagayda
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Parents who are heavily involved in the lives of their college students have received negative press in the media.
However, a recent study suggests these "helicopter parents" might deserve a little extra credit after all.
Results of the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement found students with highly involved parents were more satisfied with their overall college experiences.
They also had higher self-reported gains, such as writing, speaking and analytical skills, said Todd Chamberlain, assistant director for survey operations.
"Our results seem to indicate at least some reason to suggest parental involvement has positive effects," he said. "It certainly indicates it's not all negative."
Chamberlain said this was the first year the annual survey included questions regarding parental involvement, but similar questions may be included in future surveys.
"It's an area that should be studied further," he said.
According to the report, 38 percent of 4,518 first-year students and 29 percent of 4,644 seniors surveyed reported having parents who would intervene on their behalf when they were having difficulty in college.
The study also found students with highly involved parents had lower grades, this does not mean parents are at fault, said National Survey of Student Engagement Associate Director Robert M. Gonyea. Instead, parents are taking positive action by becoming involved because their students are struggling.
"I think what we're seeing is a good thing," Gonyea said. "The parents are helping their students get through what can be a difficult transition from home to college."
Gonyea defined parental intervention as any time a parent directly contacted college personnel for a student's problem.
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said while it is important for parents to be involved, they should be careful not to impede students personal growth.
Roscoe said college is a time for students to develop their own sense of autonomy and independence. Parents who try to fix their children's problems for them can hinder that development, he said.
"Involved parents is not a bad thing," Roscoe said. "It's over-involved when it starts to inhibit the student assuming responsibility for oneself."
Parents should act as a resource for their students and offer them guidance, support and encouragement, Roscoe said.
Gonyea said the survey's results show that helicopter parents are not as negative as they have been portrayed.
"In general, the more parents are involved in a student's life, the more they help out with the student, the better off the student is," he said.
news@cm-life.com
However, a recent study suggests these "helicopter parents" might deserve a little extra credit after all.
Results of the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement found students with highly involved parents were more satisfied with their overall college experiences.
They also had higher self-reported gains, such as writing, speaking and analytical skills, said Todd Chamberlain, assistant director for survey operations.
"Our results seem to indicate at least some reason to suggest parental involvement has positive effects," he said. "It certainly indicates it's not all negative."
Chamberlain said this was the first year the annual survey included questions regarding parental involvement, but similar questions may be included in future surveys.
"It's an area that should be studied further," he said.
According to the report, 38 percent of 4,518 first-year students and 29 percent of 4,644 seniors surveyed reported having parents who would intervene on their behalf when they were having difficulty in college.
The study also found students with highly involved parents had lower grades, this does not mean parents are at fault, said National Survey of Student Engagement Associate Director Robert M. Gonyea. Instead, parents are taking positive action by becoming involved because their students are struggling.
"I think what we're seeing is a good thing," Gonyea said. "The parents are helping their students get through what can be a difficult transition from home to college."
Gonyea defined parental intervention as any time a parent directly contacted college personnel for a student's problem.
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said while it is important for parents to be involved, they should be careful not to impede students personal growth.
Roscoe said college is a time for students to develop their own sense of autonomy and independence. Parents who try to fix their children's problems for them can hinder that development, he said.
"Involved parents is not a bad thing," Roscoe said. "It's over-involved when it starts to inhibit the student assuming responsibility for oneself."
Parents should act as a resource for their students and offer them guidance, support and encouragement, Roscoe said.
Gonyea said the survey's results show that helicopter parents are not as negative as they have been portrayed.
"In general, the more parents are involved in a student's life, the more they help out with the student, the better off the student is," he said.
news@cm-life.com
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