A study conducted by psychologists at Oakland University in the United States found that parental overprotection and heightened anxiety can impede a child’s academic progress. The findings were published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, lending credibility to concerns about how family dynamics shape learning outcomes.
The research drew on a sample of 967 young people, with a majority identifying as female and a median age of 18.7 years. Most participants were enrolled in their first or second year of college and represented higher education institutions across the Midwestern and Southern regions of the United States.
Demographic details showed that 60 percent came from two-parent families. Meanwhile, 12.3 percent grew up with a parent who had never married, 10.5 percent had a parent who was divorced or separated and did not partner with someone new, and 11.6 percent reported that at least one parent had remarried after divorce. A small portion, 3.3 percent, reported the death of a parent, leaving them with a surviving single parent.
Participants completed an academic performance assessment and screened for depressive symptoms. They also answered questions about their parents, focusing on dimensions of anxiety, overprotection, and controlling behavior. This combination of measures allowed researchers to explore the link between family environment and both mental health and academic functioning.
Results indicated that students raised by highly anxious and protective parents tended to exhibit lower academic performance, more pronounced depressive symptoms, and reduced capacity to regulate their emotional states. These associations highlight the potential impact of early family dynamics on college achievement and psychological well-being, underscoring the need for supportive approaches within families and institutions.