scholarly journals Self-Injury Among Left-Behind Adolescents in Rural China: The Role of Parental Migration and Parent–Child Attachment

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulong Wang ◽  
Manqi Zhang ◽  
Huiling Chen
Keyword(s):  
Rural China ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Child Attachment ◽  
Parent Child

The Effect of Parental Migration on the Educational Attainment of Their Left-Behind Children in Rural China

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1037-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Xuefei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Instrumental Variables ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
School Enrollment ◽  
Reduced Form ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Negative Effect

Abstract About 60 million children under the age of 18 are left behind by their parents in rural China. This paper studies the effect of migrant parents on the educational attainment of their left-behind children in rural China. A theoretical model of optimal schooling in the context of parental migration is proposed. Then, reduced-form equations are estimated using probit model, instrumental variables probit model, and linear instrumental variables model. Results show that parental migration has a negative effect on children’s school enrollment. This negative effect is significant and sizable on the school enrollment of boys, but insignificant on the school enrollment of girls. The most important source of this robust negative effect on boys is the absence of fathers. Results suggest that left-behind mothers or relatives cannot fulfill fathers’ role successfully in disciplining boys and help with their educational needs.

Parents’ Migration and Adolescents’ Transition to High School in Rural China: The Role of Parental Divorce

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 3324-3359
Author(s):  
Shu Hu
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Parental Divorce ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Transition To High School ◽  
Parental Migration

Using both quantitative and qualitative data collected in a migrant-sending county from 2012 to 2013, this article examines the mechanisms through which parental migration could shape adolescents’ transition to high school in rural China. Though parental migration improves children’s educational outcomes via social remittance of education value, it also leads to a decline in children’s educational achievements by increasing the odds of parental divorce. The likelihood of divorce rises with the migration of mother or both parents, and this significantly increases the risks of discontinuing schooling and transitioning to vocational high schools, relative to attending academic high schools. In contrast to the conventional explanations of economic resources and psychological health, this article emphasizes the significant role of marital instability in the link between parental migration and children’s educational outcomes.

scholarly journals Mental Health among Left-Behind Children in Rural China in Relation to Parent-Child Communication

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wang ◽  
Leesa Lin ◽  
Mingming Xu ◽  
Leah Li ◽  
Jingjing Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Anhui Province ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Parent Child Communication ◽  
Parent Child

In China, there are an estimated 41 million left-behind children (LBC). The objective of this study was to examine the mental health of current-left-behind children (current-LBC) and previous-left-behind children (previous-LBC) as compared to never-left-behind children (never-LBC), while considering factors like parent-child communication. Children were recruited from schools in rural areas of Anhui province in eastern China. Participants completed a questionnaire focusing on migration status, mental health, and parent-child communication, measured with the validated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Parent–Adolescent Communication Scale (PACS). Full data were available for 1251 current-, 473 previous-, and 268 never-LBC in Anhui province. After adjusting for all confounding variables, the results showed that both current and previous parental migration was associated with significantly higher mental health difficulties, including aspects of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and total difficulties. Additionally, we found that difficulties communicating with parents were strongly associated with the presence of greater total difficulties in children. Parental migration has an independent, long-lasting negative effect on children. Poor parent-child communication is strongly associated with children’s mental health. These results indicate that parent–child communication is important for the development of children, and interventions are needed to improve migrant parents’ understanding and communication skills with their children.

Facing “Double Jeopardy”? Depressive Symptoms in Left-Behind Elderly in Rural China

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1182-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Song
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Traditional Patterns ◽  
Poverty Levels

Objective: When examining the depressive symptoms of left-behind elderly, this article goes beyond a focus on disruption to traditional patterns of living arrangements and investigates the heterogeneities in the patterns of migration distance, as well as the role of community contexts in buffering the loss of migrant children’s support. Method: This study uses the first wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, and employs random effects multi-level modeling. Results: Having migrant children is associated with increased depressive symptoms among older adults, above and beyond living arrangements. Having their migrant children all live outside the province further puts older adults in disadvantaged mental conditions. This disadvantage can be further compounded by residence in impoverished communities. Discussion: In assessing depression among rural older adults in China, examination of living arrangements may be insufficient. It may be necessary to reference to children’s migration status as well as community poverty levels.

scholarly journals The Effect of Parental Migration on Early Childhood Nutrition of Left-Behind Children in Rural China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huifeng Shi ◽  
Jingxu Zhang ◽  
Yufeng Du ◽  
Chunxia Zhao ◽  
Xiaona Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Nutrition ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Early Childhood Nutrition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Migrant Parents

Abstract Background: More than one-third of children under 3 years old are left behind at home due to parental migration in rural China, and we know very little about early childhood nutrition of left-behind children (LBC) because of the dearth of research. This study examined the impact of parental migration on early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Methods: We used repeat cross-sectional data of rural children aged 6–35 months in six counties of northern and southern China, who participated in two surveys in 2013 and 2016 respectively. The length, weight, and hemoglobin concentration were measured by trained health‑care workers blinded to parental migration status. Generalized linear regressions and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to explore the association between parental migration and child nutritional outcomes at each time point. Results: 2,336 and 2,210 children aged 6–35 months were enrolled in 2013 and 2016 surveys, respectively. The risk of stunting, underweight, and wasting among the children decreased from 2013 to 2016. Children of migrant fathers performed as well as or better than children of non-migrants on these indicators. Children of migrant parents performed slightly worse in 2013, but equal or slightly better in 2016 on these indicators compared with children of non-migrants and migrant fathers. Children aged 6–17 months of migrant parents had a significantly lower risk of anemia than those living with their mothers or with both parents. Conclusions: Parental migration is not detrimental and even beneficial to early childhood nutrition of LBC in rural China. Programs for LBC are recommended to continue to focus on nutrition but pay more attention to other important health issues.

scholarly journals The Association of Parent-Child Communication With Internet Addiction in Left-Behind Children in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Cai ◽  
Yun Wang ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
Jingjing Lu ◽  
Lu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Parent Child Communication ◽  
Parent Child

Objective: Internet addiction has emerged as a growing concern worldwide. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of Internet addiction between left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (non-LBC), and explore the role of paternal and maternal parent-child communication on LBC.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in rural areas in Anhui, China. The complete data were available from 699 LBC and 740 non-LBC. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine 1) whether LBC were more likely to develop Internet addiction, and 2) the association between parent-child communication and Internet addiction among LBC.Results: LBC had a higher likelihood to report Internet addiction when compared to non-LBC (OR = 2.03, 95%CI = 1.43–2.88, p < 0.001). Among LBC, parent-child communication (both mother-child and father-child) was protective factor for children’s Internet addiction. The role of mother-child communication played well among male LBC.Conclusions: The lack of parental supervision may lead to Internet addiction. It is highly recommended for migrant parents to improve the quality of communication with their children. Also, gender-matching effects should be considered in the relationship between children’s behavior and parental factors.

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