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Does Parental Migration Have Negative Impact on the Growth of Left-Behind Children?—New Evidence from Longitudinal Data in Rural China

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  • Xu Tian

    (College of Economics and Management, China Center for Food Security Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Caicui Ding

    (Department of Nutrition and Health Education, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Chong Shen

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211166, China)

  • Hui Wang

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangning District, Nanjing 211166, China)

Abstract

The soaring number of left-behind children (LBC) in China has raised concerns about whether or not they can receive adequate care. This study investigated the impact of parents’ migration on LBC’s growth. LBC were divided into father-left children (F-LBC) and at least mother left children (M-LBC), both of which were compared with non-left-behind children (non-LBC) in terms of growth indicators. Data of 466 children with two continuous measurements were obtained from the four recent waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Anthropometric measures and 24-h recall of three consecutive days of dietary intake were extracted. The disparity of growth and nutrition status were compared by the difference-in-difference (DID) method. Results showed that LBC had significantly worse height and weight than non-LBC at baseline, respectively ( p = 0.006, p = 0.003). This disadvantage was improved after parental migration, especially for M-LBC. However, the impact on growth status caused by parents’ migration was statistically insignificant once the pre-treatment disparity was removed. Further analysis on nutrition status indicated that fathers’ migration had a significant negative impact on F-LBC’s calorie intake ( p = 0.014), which was mainly caused by the decline of carbohydrates ( p = 0.008). This study indicated that the negative impact detected in previous studies might be caused by the retarded growth of LBC before parents’ migration.

Suggested Citation

  • Xu Tian & Caicui Ding & Chong Shen & Hui Wang, 2017. "Does Parental Migration Have Negative Impact on the Growth of Left-Behind Children?—New Evidence from Longitudinal Data in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:11:p:1308-:d:116682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lu Ban & Sufang Guo & Robert W. Scherpbier & Xiaoli Wang & Hong Zhou & Laila J. Tata, 2017. "Child feeding and stunting prevalence in left-behind children: a descriptive analysis of data from a central and western Chinese population," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(1), pages 143-151, January.
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    3. Jing Luo & Jiaojiao Zou & Meimei Ji & Tong Yuan & Mei Sun & Qian Lin, 2019. "Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among 3- to 5-Year-Olds Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Chunhai Gao & Endale Tadesse & Sabika Khalid, 2022. "Word of Mouth from Left-Behind Children in Rural China: Exploring Their Psychological, Academic and Physical Well-being During COVID-19," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(5), pages 1719-1740, October.
    5. Bart Cockx & Jinkai Li & Erga Luo, 2023. "The Long-Term Impact of Parental Migration on the Health of Young Left-Behind Children," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2023019, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    6. Qiping Yang & Tong Yuan & Lina Yang & Jiaojiao Zou & Meimei Ji & Yefu Zhang & Jing Deng & Qian Lin, 2019. "Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, Stunting, and Anaemia among Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Hongyu Guan & Huan Wang & Juerong Huang & Kang Du & Jin Zhao & Matthew Boswell & Yaojiang Shi & Mony Iyer & Scott Rozelle, 2018. "Health Seeking Behavior among Rural Left-Behind Children: Evidence from Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, April.
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