Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: Helicopter parenting style and irrational beliefs can have profound effects on the psychological and social well-being of adolescents. Speech anxiety is a prevalent issue among this age group, which may be influenced by these parenting styles and cognitive patterns. The present study aims to model the relationship between helicopter parenting style and irrational beliefs with speech anxiety, considering the mediating role of perfectionism among female middle school students.
Methods: This descriptive-correlational study employed structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all female middle school students in Kerman city during the academic year 2023–2024. A total of 560 students were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Helicopter Parenting Questionnaire (Pistella et al., 2020), the Irrational Beliefs Scale (Jones, 1968), the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Questionnaire (Terry-Short et al., 1995), and the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (McCroskey, 1970). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Results: The proposed model examining the relationship between helicopter parenting style and irrational beliefs with speech anxiety, with perfectionism as a mediating variable among female middle school students, demonstrated an acceptable fit. Significant relationships were found between helicopter parenting, irrational beliefs, perfectionism, and speech anxiety (p < 0.05). Furthermore, perfectionism mediated the relationship between helicopter parenting and irrational beliefs with speech anxiety (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Helicopter parenting style, irrational beliefs, and perfectionism play significant roles in increasing speech anxiety among adolescents. Perfectionism, as a mediating variable, appears to strengthen these relationships and thereby impacts the psychological and social well-being of students.