NAVIGATING MENTAL HEALTH: HELICOPTER PARENTING'S IMPACT ON MEDICAL STUDENTS

Background: Helicopter parenting,a parental behavior marked by excessive supervision and involvement in children's activities,has generated significant concern,particularly within the realm of higher education.Its influence on medical students who are subject to substantial academic stress,remains insufficiently investigated.This research endeavor aims to elucidate the prevalence of such parenting styles among these students and its implications for their mental wellbeing,with a focus on anxiety and depression.Objective:The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence of helicopter parenting among medical students and to establish its correlation with the presence of anxiety and depressive symptomatology. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was undertaken, encompassing a sample of 300 medical students. The assessment tools employed included the Helicopter Parenting Scale for the quantification of parental involvement, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) for the measurement of anxiety levels, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) for the assessment of depressive symptoms. Additionally, sociodemographic data were collected to contextualize the findings.Statistical analysis was performed to ascertain the prevalence and interrelations between helicopter parenting, anxiety and depression.Results: The study revealed that 45% of the medical student cohort experienced helicopter parenting. Furthermore, a substantial association was observed between this parental behavior and elevated scores on both the HAM-A and HAM-D,indicative of heightened anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The prevalence of helicopter parenting among medical students is noteworthy, and it appears to be significantly linked with increased levels of anxiety and depression.These findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions aimed at bolstering mental health support within this at-risk population, considering the unique pressures inherent in medical education and the potential long-term implications of such mental health challenges.