The psychological problems and related influential factors of left-behind adolescents (LBA) in Hunan, China: a cross sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundDue to lack of companionship of parents, compared with non left behind children, left behind children (LBC) suffer from more psychological problems compared with children live with their parents. The aim of this study was to explore the mental health status and the relationship among psychological problems and the related factors of LBC.MethodAdopting delaminating-random-group sampling and using region, county, village (town) as sampling framework, we utilized Demographic Data Recording Form, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List, Scale of APGAR, Perceived Social Support Scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Self-Esteem Scale and Scale of Mental Health for Chinese Middle-school Student to assess 1309 left behind child in junior middle school students’ mental health in Hunan. Statistic description, Structural equation model was adopted to analyze the data.ResultThere was a significant difference in score of psychological problems between LBC and non-LBC(F = 18.224, P<0.000). Life event was the major factor(r = .487) that affected psychological problems (path coefficient, PC = 0.08) directly and affect psychological problems indirectly through affecting passive coping (PC = 0.01)and family functioning(PC = 0.02); family functioning impacted psychological problems indirectly through affecting social support (PC = 4.89) and self-esteem (PC = 0.10); social support (PC = −0.02), passive coping (PC =0.07) and active coping PC = −0.04) affected psychological problems directly. Psychoticism (P) (PC = 0.11), Neuroticism (N) influenced psychological problems of LBC both directly (PC = 0.04) and indirectly through affecting self-esteem (PC: P:-1.87; N: -0.83), while Extraversion/Introversion (E) (PC = 0.21) only impact psychological problems indirectly through self-esteem. Altogether, these variables accounted for 50.2% of total variance of psychological problems (F = 130.470, P = 0.000) for LBC.ConclusionIn this research we proved that LBC have more sever psychological problems than non-LBC. We also identified the direct and indirect influential factors of psychological problems of LBC. The findings had important implications for prevention policies and interventions to promote mental health of LBC.

Impact of parental migration on psychosocial well-being of children left behind: a qualitative study in rural China

“…The non-traditional family structures may be risks for future psychopathology in children [5], and exacerbate the vulnerabilities of children with less social support [6, 7]. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the psychological impact from parental absence.…”

Clinical analysis of posterior segment injury in left-behind children in China

“…According to previous studies [8,9], LBC were defined as children who were under 18 years old and were left at home with both or one of their parents migrate to urban areas for at least 6 months. Children with one of their patients leaving away for less than 6 months were defined NLBC.…”

Influencing factors of aggressive behavior among left-behind junior high school students: structural equation model

“…Middle school is a critical period for the physical and mental development of teenagers. Research found that [58] the absence of parents at this stage will cause left-behind children to suffer more negative events in interpersonal communication, study, living environment and other aspects.…”

“…Due to the immaturity of thought and coping style, as well as the lack of proper guidance from parents, compared with non-left-behind junior high school students, left-behind junior high school students are more likely to have violent behaviors stimulated by negative life events [58] . Therefore, reducing the impact of negative life events on its appearance should come to the rst place before downgrading or preventing the occurrence of left-behind junior high school student's aggressive behavior.…”