The Mediating Role of Career Stress and Career Awareness in the Relationship Between Mother Helicopter Parenting, Autonomy Supportive Behaviors, and Career Instability

This study aims to examine the structural relationships between mothers’ parental helicopter parenting and autonomy supportive behaviors, and emerging adults' career instability, career awareness, and career stress. The study sample includes 970 university students, comprising 635 women (65.4%) and 335 men (34.6%), aged between 17 and 25. Participants provided self-reported data on helicopter parenting, autonomy supportive behaviors, career instability, career awareness, and career stress. Structural equation modeling was utilized to assess the intricate relationships among these variables. Findings indicate that maternal autonomy supportive behaviors significantly correlate with career awareness, though they do not have a statistically significant relationship with career stress. Helicopter parenting is positively associated with career stress, whereas career awareness shows a negative association. Additionally, career awareness inversely contributes to career instability, while both career stress and helicopter parenting have positive contributions. The link between helicopter parenting and career awareness was not statistically significant. Helicopter parenting’s impact on career instability is mediated by career stress, while the influence of autonomy supportive behaviors on career instability is mediated through career awareness and both career awareness and career stress.