Grandparent-child cohesion, friendship quality, and left-behind children’s positive/negative affect in rural China

Abstract

This study examined the roles of grandparent-child cohesion and friendship quality in left-behind children’s positive and negative affect compared with non-left-behind children. Data from 557 participants indicated that grandparent-child cohesion and friendship quality predicted children’s emotional adaptation. Friend trust and support and intimate exchange had a stronger predictive effect on positive affect among non-left-behind children. Moreover, the interaction effects between grandparent-child cohesion and friendship quality on children’s positive affect supported the reinforcement model, while the interaction effects on negative affect supported the reinforcement model among left-behind children but supported the compensation model among non-left-behind children.

Left-Behind Children’s Positive and Negative Social Adjustment: A qualitative Study in China

“…In agreement with other studies, being left-behind situation contributed to the development and progression of negative emotional states of social adjustment, especially depression and loneliness [ 36 , 37 ]. Based on the perspectives of LBC themselves and the relevant adult groups defined in this study, LBC exhibited obvious depression and loneliness.…”

Contributors to well‐being of Chinese left‐behind families: A dyadic perspective from family resilience and grandparent–grandchild relationship

“…These partner effects of relationship quality on SWB within the GP–GC dyads are in line with previous findings in another dyadic study in CLBF (Zhou et al, 2021). Under the vulnerable situation, if grandparents feel close to the grandchildren and confide in them, they might be more likely to provide emotional and physical support to left‐behind grandchildren, which could improve grandchildren's SWB (Lou et al, 2013; Song et al, 2018; Zhao et al, 2016). Meanwhile, grandchildren who have an intimate relationship with grandparents are likely to interact actively with them and take on the role of doing household chores and caring for their grandparents (He & Ye, 2014; Xu & Chi, 2011).…”

“…In CLBF, GP–GC relationship quality is also crucial for both left‐behind grandchildren's and their grandparents' SWB (Zhou et al, 2021). For grandchildren, the intimate emotional bond with grandparents is protective against the risk of depression (Li et al, 2021; Zhao et al, 2016). Moreover, being separated from their parents, left‐behind children were undergoing various difficulties.…”

“…As stated above, family resilience plays a key role in enhancing relationship quality and SWB, and also, relationship quality is an important resource for promoting SWB (Gómez, 2021; Liu, 2019; Zhao et al, 2016; Zhou et al, 2021). Therefore, we hypothesized that family resilience would work as a precursor to the association between GP–GC relationship quality and SWB among left‐behind members.…”