Feeling worse, feeling more overprotected: An experience sampling study among adolescents

Parental overprotection is often blamed for rising youth emotional problems; yet evidence on everyday processes is limited. This 7-day Experience Sampling study examined linkages between perceived overprotection and adolescent affect. Adolescents (N = 143; Mage = 15.8, age range = 11-18; 64% girls, 92% Dutch/Belgian) provided momentary reports on overprotection (intrusion, unnecessary worry, unneeded help) and affect. Preregistered Dynamic Structural Equation Models showed within-person associations between overprotection and negative (not positive) affect. Overprotection was associated with higher concurrent negative affect. Negative affect predicted more overprotection several hours later but not vice versa, except for "unneeded help," which was reciprocally associated with fear. These findings guide future research on adolescents' affective antecedents of experienced overprotection and on when, for whom, and which aspects of overprotection are harmful rather than protective.