Affiliation:
1. Jiangxi Normal University
2. Gannan Normal University
3. Shangrao Normal University
4. Jiangxi Medical College
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Parents-child separation poses a significant challenge for children who are left behind (LBC). However, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the correlation between left-behind characteristics and the psychological symptoms of LBC. This study investigated psychological symptoms among LBC and explored associations between left-behind characteristics and those symptoms.
Methods
Using stratified cluster sampling, 1,832 LBC aged 13–18 years from three cities in East China were selected for analysis. Participants’ depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), respectively. Chi-square tests were used to compare differences in detection rates of psychological symptoms among LBC in different groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to infer associations between left-behind characteristics and psychological symptoms.
Results
our study showed that depression and anxiety symptoms were detected in 32.86% and 33.24%, respectively, of participating LBC. Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in detection rates of depression symptoms by gender, grade, and timing of parent-child separation. Statistically significant differences were observed in anxiety symptom rates by gender, grade, type of caregiver, and timing of mother-child separation. Multivariate analysis indicated a positive association between LBC’s anxiety symptoms and mother-child separation that occurred during post-primary school, and type of caregiver (father only or mother only). Our findings confirm a positive correlation between left-behind characteristics and anxiety symptoms among LBC.
Conclusion
The timing of mother-child separation and type of caregiver are potential risk factors for the development of anxiety symptoms in this population.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
Reference101 articles.
1. Impact of Parent-Child Separation on Children’s Social-Emotional Development: A Cross-Sectional Study of Left-behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of China;Shi H;BMC Public Health,2021
2. Ministry of Civil Affairs. Chart: Data of Rural LeftBehind Children in 2018. https://xxgk.mca.gov.cn:8445/gdnps/pc/content.jsp?mtype=4&id=1662004999979993614 (accessed 2023-07-31).
3. Wu Z. Report of Rural Education Development in China (2020–2022). Beijing: Science Press; 2022.
4. Health Impacts of Parental Migration on Left-behind Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis;Fellmeth G;The Lancet,2018
5. YIN, xiaojian. A Comparative Study on the Nutritional Status of the Left behind Children,Migrant Children and Urban Children;TAO X;Sports Sci