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

Author

Listed:
  • Feng Wang

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Leesa Lin

    (Faculty of Public Health Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock PL, Kings Cross, London WC1H9SH, UK
    Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Mingming Xu

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Leah Li

    (Population, Policy and Practice Programme, GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, Guilford St, London WC1N1EH, UK)

  • Jingjing Lu

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Xudong Zhou

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou 310058, China)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Feng Wang & Leesa Lin & Mingming Xu & Leah Li & Jingjing Lu & Xudong Zhou, 2019. "Mental Health among Left-Behind Children in Rural China in Relation to Parent-Child Communication," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:10:p:1855-:d:234381
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. 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.
    3. Huan Wang & Cody Abbey & Xinshu She & Scott Rozelle & Xiaochen Ma, 2021. "Association of Child Mental Health with Child and Family Characteristics in Rural China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-16, May.
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    5. Jason Hung, 2023. "Policy-Oriented Examination of Left-Behind Children’s Health and Well-Being in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Minmin Li & Ni Zhu & Lingxia Zeng & Duolao Wang & Shaonong Dang & Victoria Watson & Tao Chen & Zhongqiu Hua & Zhaoqing Li & Yijun Kang & Hong Yan & Chao Li, 2020. "Effect of Parental Migration on the Intellectual and Physical Development of Early School-Aged Children in Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-10, January.
    7. Lyuci Zhang & Samsilah Roslan & Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh & Yuqin Jiang & Sumei Wu & Ye Chen, 2022. "Perceived Stress, Social Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Post-Stress Growth among Chinese Left-Behind Children: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-13, February.
    8. Sipei Xu & Jia Zhang, 2022. "Do Social Pensions Affect the Physical and Mental Health of Rural Children in China? An Intergenerational Care Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-25, March.
    9. Ye Chen & Xinxin Yu & Aini Azeqa Ma’rof & Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh & Haslinda Abdullah & Hanina Halimatusaadiah Hamsan & Lyuci Zhang, 2022. "Social Identity, Core Self-Evaluation, School Adaptation, and Mental Health Problems in Migrant Children in China: A Chain Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
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    11. Yang, Shuai & Wang, Yan & Lu, Yuan & Zhang, Hanhan & Wang, Feng & Liu, Zhijun, 2023. "Long-term effects of the left-behind experience on health and its mechanisms: Empirical evidence from China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).

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