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Parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors: The mediating role of deviant peer affiliation and the moderating role of beliefs about adversity

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  • Yang, Banglin
  • Xiong, Cancan
  • Huang, Jin

Abstract

Left-behind children face many threats to their survival, which leads to their externalizing problem behaviors. Previous studies showed that parental emotional neglect has a profound influence on left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors, but the mediating and moderating mechanisms that underlie this influence are unclear. The current study investigated the effects of parental emotional neglect on left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors, the mediating role of deviant peer affiliation, and the moderating role of beliefs about adversity in the association between parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors. A sample of 1063 children (Mage = 14.71, SD = 1.64) from a rural area of Taiqian County anonymously completed the Emotional Neglect Scale, the Deviant Peer Affiliation Scale, the Beliefs about Adversity Scale, the Externalizing Problem Behaviors Scale and a demographic information questionnaire. After controlled for demographic variables, parental emotional neglect significantly and positively predicted left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors. The mediation analysis showed that the positive association between parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors was mediated by deviant peer affiliation. Moreover, the moderation analysis indicated that beliefs about adversity moderated the association between parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors, which supports the stress-buffering model. The current study provides an understanding of how parental emotional neglect influences left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors. This research also provides a timely and necessary study of the prevention and intervention of these behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Banglin & Xiong, Cancan & Huang, Jin, 2021. "Parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors: The mediating role of deviant peer affiliation and the moderating role of beliefs about adversity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:120:y:2021:i:c:s0190740920321332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105710
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fan, Xiaoyan & Lu, Mengjia, 2020. "Testing the effect of perceived social support on left-behind children’s mental well-being in mainland China: The mediation role of resilience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Daniel Shek, 2005. "A Longitudinal Study of Chinese Cultural Beliefs About Adversity, Psychological Well-Being, Delinquency And Substance Abuse in Chinese Adolescents With Economic Disadvantage," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 71(1), pages 385-409, March.
    3. Hu, Hongwei & Lu, Shuang & Huang, Chien-Chung, 2014. "The psychological and behavioral outcomes of migrant and left-behind children in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 1-10.
    4. Tan, Chang & Zhao, Chunxia & Dou, Yan & Duan, Xiaoqian & Shi, Huifeng & Wang, Xiaoli & Huang, Xiaona & Zhang, Jingxu, 2020. "Caregivers’ depressive symptoms and social–emotional development of left-behind children under 3 years old in poor rural China: The mediating role of home environment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
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    1. Yuwen Lyu & Julian Chun-Chung Chow & Ji-Jen Hwang & Zhi Li & Cheng Ren & Jungui Xie, 2022. "Psychological Well-Being of Left-Behind Children in China: Text Mining of the Social Media Website Zhihu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Li, Fu-Wei & Jhang, Fang-Hua, 2023. "Controllable negative life events, family cohesion, and externalizing problems among rural and migrant children in China: A moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Yongfeng Ma & Chunhua Ma & Xiaoyu Lan, 2022. "Openness to Experience Moderates the Association of Warmth Profiles and Subjective Well-Being in Left-Behind and Non-Left-Behind Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, March.

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