A comparative analysis of suicide attempts in left-behind children and non-left-behind children in rural China

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence of suicide attempts and explore the shared and unique factors influencing suicide risk in left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (NLBC) in rural China, this study collected data using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method from 13,952 children including 6,034 LBC and 7,918 NLBC. Sociodemographic characteristics, suicide attempts, neglect and physical abuse, negative life events, and loneliness were measured by self-reported questionnaires. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Gender and mother's education level were unique influential factors for NLBC while family structure type was a unique influential factor for LBC. The study provides two novel findings regarding NLBC specifically: 1. Children with optimal family socioeconomic status are more likely to report suicide attempts (odds ratio OR = 1)than are those in the general children population, OR 0.52 (95% CI: 0.39–0.70), and 2. Children with higher mother’s education level are subject to higher suicide rates in high school, OR 1.67 (95% CI: 1.13–2.46), and post-secondary education, OR 2.14 (95% CI: 1.37–3.37). The unique characteristics of LBC and NLBC in China suggest that investigating risk factors and determining the factors that might be targeted in intervention programs are urgently needed currently.

Health impacts of parental migration on left-behind children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Studies129, 133 reporting anxiety outcomes similarly found increased risks among left-behind children and adolescents compared with children of non-migrants. Consistent with our findings, a large study of adolescents in China (n=13 952) found a significant increase in suicide attempts in left-behind adolescents compared with adolescents who were not left behind (3·75% vs 2·86%, p<0·01) 134 . Two studies135, 136 assessed nutrition outcomes.…”

Bullying victimization and child sexual abuse among left-behind and non-left-behind children in China

“…Although millions of migrant parents pursue better opportunities for their children, their children left behind actually live in a situation lacking parental care and nurturance and are more likely to suffer abuse than others ( Zhao, Liu & Wang, 2015 ). LBC were more likely to report being bullied ( Otake, Liu & Luo, 2017 ), and suicide attempts ( Chang et al, 2017 ) than non-LBC did in China.…”

What Really Matters for Loneliness Among Left-Behind Children in Rural China: A Meta-Analytic Review

“…A chronic and painful state of loneliness is harmful to mental and physical health (Heinrich and Gullone, 2006; Qualter et al, 2015; Lempinen et al, 2018); in fact, it may elevate the risk for depression (Cacioppo et al, 2015), mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al, 2015), social withdrawal, and suicidality (Schinka et al, 2013), even damaging the immune, cardiovascular, and nervous systems (Cacioppo et al, 2015; LeRoy et al, 2017). As for left-behind children, a sense of yearning for their parents and chronically high loneliness result in a constellation of mental problems, including conduct problems (Yu, 2017) and suicide attempts (Chang et al, 2017).…”