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Unpacking the Association between Family Functionality and Psychological Distress among Chinese Left-Behind Children: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Internet Addiction

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  • Xiaoyan Fan

    (School of Social Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

Abstract

Family functionality has been proven to be associated with adolescents’ and children’s mental health, but its indirect mechanisms among left-behind children have rarely been investigated in the Chinese context. This study aims to explore the direct effect of family functionality on psychological distress and the mediating roles of social support and Internet addiction among Chinese left-behind children. Based on multistage random sampling, 1355 students were recruited to participate in a school-based questionnaire survey in Jiangsu Province. Structural equation modeling using Amos 26.0 was used to test the direct and indirect paths of the variables. The results support our hypotheses, suggesting that family functionality has a direct effect on the psychological distress of left-behind children. Meanwhile, the association between family functionality and psychological distress is mediated by social support and Internet addiction, separately and sequentially. The findings suggest that effective social work interventions for psychological distress should be targeted toward social support and Internet addiction among left-behind children.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyan Fan, 2022. "Unpacking the Association between Family Functionality and Psychological Distress among Chinese Left-Behind Children: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Internet Addiction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13327-:d:943500
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    1. Zhengmao Guo & Changzhu Qi & Jian Yang & Yatao Xu & Shouming Li, 2023. "How family structure influences middle-school students’ involvement in physical exercise and their academic achievement in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.

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