Overprotective parenting attitudes and personal–social development during the preschool period

This study examined the associations between parental attitudes and developmental outcomes among preschool children aged 2–6 years in Türkiye. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 parents and their children recruited from a pediatric outpatient clinic. Parental attitudes were assessed using the Parental Attitude Scale, and child development was evaluated with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and structured observations. Overprotective parenting was consistently associated with lower scores across personal-social and other developmental domains, whereas permissive parenting showed weaker negative associations with overall development. Democratic and authoritarian parenting were not significantly associated with developmental outcomes. These findings contribute to the cross-cultural literature on parenting and early childhood development by highlighting the potential influence of overprotective parenting on children's developmental experiences. Interventions that promote age-appropriate autonomy and balanced parenting practices may support healthier developmental outcomes.