The longitudinal relationship between helicopter parenting and depressive symptoms among university students: the serial mediating roles of exercise behavior and physical self-esteem

Helicopter parenting has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes, yet the longitudinal mechanisms through which it may contribute to depressive symptoms remain unclear; this study examined the prospective association between helicopter parenting and depressive symptoms among university students using a three-wave design and tested a serial mediation model involving exercise behavior and physical self-esteem. A sample of 491 Chinese university students (157 males; mean age = 18.73 years, SD = 0.84) completed the Helicopter Parenting Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale, Physical Self-Esteem Scale, and Self-Rating Depression Scale across three waves spaced 6 months apart. The results indicated that helicopter parenting was positively associated with depressive symptoms, and both exercise behavior and physical self-esteem significantly mediated this relationship; importantly, the hypothesized serial indirect effect of helicopter parenting on depressive symptoms via exercise behavior and physical self-esteem was significant. These findings demonstrate a prospective association between helicopter parenting and depressive symptoms and highlight the mediating roles of exercise behavior and physical self-esteem, suggesting that helicopter parenting represents a potential target for future intervention research aimed at reducing depressive symptoms in university students.