HIGH POINT, N.C., June 16, 2015 – Dr. Kirsten Li-Barber, assistant professor of psychology at High Point University, alumna Lindsey Anuzis and senior Nicole Bayeur presented research findings from a study about the academic success of college students at the annual Association for Psychological Science Convention in New York City.
Their research focuses on students’ perceptions of the value of learning, their willingness to engage in long-term planning toward academic goals, and how levels of maternal and paternal over-protective behavior relate to these outcomes. They presented their findings in a poster titled “Academic Entitlement, Motivation For Learning and Persistence on Tasks Among College Students.”
The results of their study indicate that higher levels of over-protective behavior in mothers is associated with students perceiving themselves as less capable in their ability to succeed in academic tasks, while higher levels of father over-protective behavior is associated with greater test anxiety in students. Both mother and father over-protective behavior is also associated with lower student perceptions of the inherent value of mastery of academic skills and learning.
“Our study provides further insight into the nature of over-protective parents and their possible connection with academic success at the college level,” says Li-Barber. “While so-called ‘helicopter parents’ mean well for their children, our research indicates that high levels of over-protection can curb student long-term planning and goal setting, and may be related to students feeling less capable of succeeding in the classroom.”
“Having the opportunity to go to APS in New York was an incredible experience,” Bayeur says. “Not only did I get to present my research and represent High Point, I also got to network and be inspired through different posters and presentations. This experience really allowed me to expand what I learn in the classroom to real life.”