Narcissism Mediates the Relationship Between Helicopter Parenting and Divergent Creativity, but Not Convergent Creativity

This study contrasts the relationship between helicopter parenting, narcissistic traits, and divergent creativity to the relationship between helicopter parenting, narcissistic traits, and convergent creativity in college students. In this study, 113 college students from 19 to 27 years of age completed surveys measuring helicopter parenting, narcissism, and creativity tasks. Both increased levels of student-reported helicopter parenting and increased levels of narcissism predicted decreased divergent and convergent creativity scores. While the relationship between helicopter parenting and divergent creativity was fully mediated by increased narcissism, helicopter parenting and narcissism independently contributed to differences in convergent creativity. Results suggest that helicopter parenting behaviors may impact different aspects of the creative process, but all in negative ways.