The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in the Relationship Between Overparenting and Narcissism in Iranian College Students

Objectives :

Overparenting or “helicopter parenting” has an impact on the basic psychological needs of children, which can be related to narcissism in adults. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction in the relationship between overparenting and narcissism in Iranian college students. 

Methods:

 This is a descriptive-correlational study using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population consists of all master degree students of the University of Tehran in 2021-2022, of whom 278 were selected using a convenience sampling method. The collection tools included Desi and Ryan’s Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale, LeMoyne and Buchanan’s helicopter parenting scale, and Ames et al.’s Narcissistic Personality Inventory-16. Relationships between variables were assessed using Pearson correlation test and SEM in SPSS software, version 27 and Amos version 24.

Results:

 The basic psychological need satisfaction play a mediating role in the relationship between overparenting and narcissism (P<0.05). Overparenting had a positive and significant relationship with narcissism (P<0.05) and a significant negative relationship with basic psychological need satisfaction. There was a significant negative correlation between basic psychological need satisfaction and narcissism (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

 The mental health specialists should pay special attention to the role of overparenting in the quality of providing basic psychological needs to prevent the formation of narcissistic personality disorder in people.