Abstract: Overparenting, which is colloquially referred to as “helicopter parenting,” has received considerable media attention in the past 10-15 years but has only recently received scientific research attention.  This presentation will address current theorizing into the reasons why parents engage in this practice.  It will also describe why overparenting has largely negative effects on the emerging adult children who are reared by parents who engage in these behaviors.  Findings from several multi-site national family survey studies coordinated out of our lab at U of A will be presented to illustrate potential causes and consequences of overparenting in family systems