IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i21p4188-d281499.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among 3- to 5-Year-Olds Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Jing Luo

    (Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China)

  • Jiaojiao Zou

    (Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China)

  • Meimei Ji

    (Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China)

  • Tong Yuan

    (Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China)

  • Mei Sun

    (School of Nursing Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China)

  • Qian Lin

    (Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China)

Abstract

The term left-behind children (LBC) refers to underage children who have been separated from their father/mother or parents for a long period of time. At present, there are few studies on the emotional and behavioral problems of three- to five-year-old LBC in poor rural areas of China. In this study, random cluster sampling was used to recruit caregivers of left-behind children (CLBC) aged three to five years in two poor rural areas in Hunan Province. General demographic data of LBC and their caregivers were collected via face-to-face questionnaires. Children’s emotional and behavioral problems were assessed by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Among 557 LBC, the prevalence of a total difficulties score in an abnormal/borderline range was 27.6–50.6%. The most common problem of LBC was hyperactivity, with a rate of 33.6%. Compared with boys, girls had more emotional problems ( p < 0.05) and fewer hyperactivity disorders ( p < 0.01). Factors related to the emotional and behavioral problems of LBC were the LBC’s age, the number of sick people at home, and the CLBC’s willingness to take care of the LBC. The detection rate of emotional and behavioral problems of three- to five-year-old LBC in poor rural areas is higher than that of children of the same age in urban areas and Western developed countries. There were gender differences in hyperactivity and emotional symptoms. Poor care will increase the risk of children’s emotional and behavioral abnormalities.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4188-:d:281499
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/21/4188/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/21/4188/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Liu, Z. & Li, X. & Ge, X., 2009. "Left too early: The effects of age at separation from parents on Chinese rural children's symptoms of anxiety and depression," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(11), pages 2049-2054.
    3. Yefu Zhang & Meimei Ji & Jiaojiao Zou & Tong Yuan & Jing Deng & Lina Yang & Mingzhi Li & Hong Qin & Jihua Chen & Qian Lin, 2018. "Effect of a Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Nutritional Knowledge and Food Practices among Caregivers of 3–5-Year-Old Left-Behind Children in the Rural Hunan Province," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Meimei Ji & Yefu Zhang & Jiaojiao Zou & Tong Yuan & Amber Tang & Jing Deng & Lina Yang & Mingzhi Li & Jihua Chen & Hong Qin & Qian Lin, 2017. "Study on the Status of Health Service Utilization among Caregivers of Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province: A Baseline Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-11, August.
    5. 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.
    6. Yufeng Ouyang & Jiaojiao Zou & Meimei Ji & Yefu Zhang & Tong Yuan & Lina Yang & Qian Lin, 2019. "Study on the Status of Health Service Utilization among 3–5 Years Old Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Birute Balseviciene & Liuda Sinkariova & Regina Grazuleviciene & Sandra Andrusaityte & Inga Uzdanaviciute & Audrius Dedele & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, 2014. "Impact of Residential Greenness on Preschool Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, June.
    8. Sha Ma & Minmin Jiang & Feng Wang & Jingjing Lu & Lu Li & Therese Hesketh, 2019. "Left-Behind Children and Risk of Unintentional Injury in Rural China—A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-9, January.
    9. 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.
    10. Hongwei Hu & Jiamin Gao & Haochen Jiang & Haixia Jiang & Shaoyun Guo & Kun Chen & Kaili Jin & Yingying Qi, 2018. "A Comparative Study of Behavior Problems among Left-Behind Children, Migrant Children and Local Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Mi Zhou & Xiaotong Sun & Li Huang & Guangsheng Zhang & Kaleigh Kenny & Hao Xue & Emma Auden & Scott Rozelle, 2018. "Parental Migration and Left-Behind Children’s Depressive Symptoms: Estimation Based on a Nationally-Representative Panel Dataset," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mingzhi Mao & Lijun Zang & Haifeng Zhang, 2020. "The Effects of Parental Absence on Children Development: Evidence from Left-Behind Children in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chi Zhou & Qiaohong Lv & Nancy Yang & Feng Wang, 2021. "Left-Behind Children, Parent-Child Communication and Psychological Resilience: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Jingjing Lu & Minmin Jiang & Lu Li & Therese Hesketh, 2019. "Relaxation in the Chinese Hukou System: Effects on Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children Affected by Migration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-9, October.
    5. 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).
    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. 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.
    8. Xie, Xiaoxia & Huang, Chien-Chung & Chen, Yafan & Hao, Feng, 2019. "Intelligent robots and rural children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 283-290.
    9. 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.
    10. Mazzucato, Valentina & Cebotari, Victor & Veale, Angela & White, Allen & Grassi, Marzia & Vivet, Jeanne, 2015. "International parental migration and the psychological well-being of children in Ghana, Nigeria, and Angola," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 215-224.
    11. Lijun Chen & Di Qi & Dali Yang, 2020. "The Urbanization Paradox: Parental Absence and Child Development in China - an Empirical Analysis Based on the China Family Panel Studies Survey," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(2), pages 593-608, April.
    12. Jun-Hyun Kim & Chanam Lee & Wonmin Sohn, 2016. "Urban Natural Environments, Obesity, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Hispanic Children Living in Inner-City Neighborhoods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
    13. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Ray, Sharon A. & Liu, Xia & Smith, Dylan M. & Hou, Wei, 2023. "What makes left-behind children resilient? And how? The role of hope on the resilience of Chinese left-behind children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    14. Xinxin Wang & Shidan Xu & Yubo Zhuo & Julian Chun-Chung Chow, 2023. "Higher Income but Lower Happiness with Left-Behind Experience? A Study of Long-Term Effects for China’s Migrants," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(1), pages 411-434, February.
    15. 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).
    16. Mayang Rizky & Sofni Indah Arifa Lubis & Nila Warda & Yudi Fajar M. Wahyu & Emmy Hermanus & Niken Kusumawardhani & Hafiz Arfyanto & Joseph Natanael Marshan & Nina Toyamah, "undated". "Kesentosaan Anak-Anak yang Hidup dalam Kemiskinan yang Ditinggal oleh Ibunya yang Menjadi Pekerja Migran: Studi Kasus di Dua Kabupaten di Indonesia," Working Papers 3794, Publications Department.
    17. Lu, Jingjing & Lin, Leesa & Roy, Brita & Riley, Carley & Wang, Emily & Wang, Karen & Li, Lu & Wang, Feng & Zhou, Xudong, 2020. "The impacts of parent-child communication on left-behind children’s mental health and suicidal ideation: A cross sectional study in Anhui," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    18. Wang, H. & Guan, H. & Boswell, M., 2018. "Health Seeking Behavior among Rural Left-behind Children: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in China," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 276955, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Hafiz Arfyanto & Joseph Natanael Marshan & Nina Toyamah & Mayang Rizky & Sofni Indah Arifa Lubis & Nila Warda & Yudi Fajar M. Wahyu & Emmy Hermanus & Niken Kusumawardhani, "undated". "The Well-Being of Poor Children Left by Their Mothers Who Become Migrant Workers: Case Study in Two Kabupaten in Indonesia," Working Papers 1640, Publications Department.
    20. 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.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4188-:d:281499. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.