FLASH NEWS
Beware of excessive control over children, you cause them psychological problems
2025-05-23 08:10:31 / JETË
An overprotective parent is not always a reassuring parent.
This is suggested by two recent studies conducted by the Department of Psychology at the University of Turin, in collaboration with the European University of Rome. The research sheds light on an often neglected form of relationship trauma: parental hypercontrol.
Studies show that an overly protective parenting style – often experienced as care or attention – can seriously harm children's emotional and cognitive development.
"We have shown that excessive parental intervention can be as harmful as neglect or abuse," explains Rita Ardito, professor of clinical psychology and coordinator of the research project in Turin.
Excessive control limits autonomy and prevents the child from developing self-confidence and a healthy perception of the world.
What science says about hypercontrol: traces in the brain
In the first study, researchers included 71 young people without psychological diagnoses, but who had experienced very controlling parents.
Using an electroencephalogram (EEG), they observed resting-state brain activity and discovered a link between perceived maternal control and specific brain activation.
Young people who have spent a childhood under hypercontrol show higher activity in two areas of the brain that are usually activated in the face of danger or when decisions need to be made.
In other words, these people seem to be "programmed" to always be on alert, even in the absence of any real danger.
The second study, with 82 participants, analyzed the emotional reactions of those who had gone through similar experiences, showing that excessive parental control makes it more difficult to manage emotions and create secure, effective attachments.
A trauma that challenges paradigms
Researchers propose that parental hypercontrol be officially recognized as a new form of childhood relationship trauma, comparable to emotional abuse.
Control can manifest itself in various forms: constant surveillance, punishment for personal choices, obsessive warnings of future dangers, or restriction of emotional expression.
Although often well-intentioned, these behaviors hinder the development of personal identity and increase the risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and difficulties in coping with emotions.
At a time when mental health is at the center of public debate, data from the universities of Turin and Rome could help create more sensitive and comprehensive prevention strategies.
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