It’s a universal truth: parents aren’t perfect. Although the majority of parents truly try their best to do right by their children and give them the best possible futures, they make mistakes, things that can affect their childhoods and, eventually, these missteps can manifest as certain traits seen in adulthood. Ahead, we’ll delve into the typical traits seen in adults who were raised by helicopter parents. A psychologist reveals what characteristics are common, and why parental actions like micromanaging, overscheduling and shielding children from disappointment or frustration can actually leave a lasting impression—long after they "leave the nest."Whether you feel "seen" by having this topic addressed or you're a parent who wants to avoid veering into "helicopter" territory yourself, these insights should help you on your own healing or parenting journey.Related: People Who Were ‘Coddled’ as Children Often Develop These 11 Traits as Adults, Psychologists Say
“Helicopter parents are well-meaning but overly involved, constantly hovering to shield their child from discomfort, failure or risk—often without realizing it stifles the very skills kids need to grow, like resilience and independence,” says psychologist and children’s mental health expert Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge.
She adds that helicopter parents often micromanage, over-schedule and rush to fix things the moment their child is uncomfortable, thinking they’re helping—when they’re actually getting in the way of emotional growth and self-regulation. Although these parents are undoubtedly well-meaning and clearly love their children, this parenting style can result in adults who carry several negative traits, but as Dr. Capanna-Hodge says, these traits aren’t “flaws”—they’re simply nervous system adaptions. “But over time, they limit growth,” she points out. If you identify as someone who was raised by helicopter parents, you should know that, as Dr. Capanna-Hodge says, the nervous system is changeable, and it’s never too late to build confidence, resilience and skills that foster real independence. This can be accomplished through self-awareness or a therapist who can guide you through the process. Related: So ‘Snowplow Parenting’ Is a Thing and Here’s Everything You Need To Know About It
9 Common Traits of People Who Were Raised by Helicopter Parents, According to a Psychologist
“Helicopter parenting often shields kids from discomfort, but stress is part of life,” Dr. Capanna-Hodge states. “Without small, manageable opportunities to learn how to cope, the nervous system doesn’t build resilience—and these adults often have low stress tolerance, feeling overwhelmed by everyday challenges.”
2. Difficulty making decisions
Dr. Capanna-Hodge says that when kids grow up without the chance to make age-appropriate choices, they don’t get to build the confidence that comes from experience. “As adults, they often struggle with difficulty making decisions because they never learned to trust their own judgment,” she adds.
As Dr. Capanna-Hodge says, if failure was treated like something to avoid rather than something to learn from, kids internalize that mistakes equal danger. “That nervous system association sticks, and as adults, many carry a persistent fear of failure that keeps them from taking healthy risks,” she explains.Related: This One Common Habit Is Actually Holding You Back, According to a Psychologist—Here's Why
4. Low self-confidence
Generally, kids who were constantly corrected, micromanaged or rescued start to believe they’re incapable. Dr. Capanna-Hodge goes on to say, “That message wires into their brain and body, and as adults, they carry low self-confidence and are prone to negative thinking, even in areas where they are more than capable.”
“When children learn that approval comes from performance or perfection, they often grow into adults with people-pleasing tendencies who are unable to set boundaries, putting others' needs ahead of their own to feel secure and accepted,” Dr. Capanna-Hodge shares.Related: Individuals Who Grew Up as 'People-Pleasers' Usually Develop These 12 Traits as Adults, Psychologists Say
6. Trouble solving problems independently
If you were raised by helicopter parents, you might find that without that space to make mistakes and figure things out on your own, you now don’t have real-world coping tools. “That’s why so many adults raised by helicopter parents struggle with independent problem-solving—they were protected from discomfort instead of coached through it,” Dr. Capanna-Hodge says.
“When kids are constantly directed or praised only for performance, they learn to rely on others for approval,” Dr. Capanna-Hodge says. “As adults, this can create a deep dependence on external validation—they don’t trust their own voice unless someone else confirms it.” Related: How To Validate Someone’s Feelings, According to a Clinical Psychologist
8. Delayed independence
Delayed independence, also called “failure to launch,” can be an outcome of helicopter parenting. “Overhelping sends the silent message that the world is too hard and they can’t handle it,” Dr. Capanna-Hodge says. “As a result, many young adults raised this way face failure to launch, relying on parents far past childhood because independence feels unsafe.”
9. Low risk tolerance
Dr. Capanna-Hodge explains that if every risk was labeled as "dangerous" growing up, the nervous system learns to equate uncertainty with threat. “As adults, this shows up as low risk tolerance, where even small changes feel overwhelming or unsafe,” she observes.
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Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, psychologist and children’s mental health expert.Hence then, the article about people who were raised by helicopter parents often develop these 9 traits as adults a psychologist says was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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