A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis of Changes in Left-Behind Children’s Mental Health in China

Abstract

A considerable body of research using the Mental Health Test (MHT) has explored the psychological repercussions of the physical separation of children from one or both parents as they pursue better economic prospects in cities. Generally, these studies compare the mental health status (MHS) between left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (NLBC). That notwithstanding, little is known about the real policy impact of these studies on the ground over the years. Using a relevant search strategy and selection criteria, we identified qualified studies (N = 102: 2004 to 2019). Cross-temporal meta-analysis (CTMA) was performed on these studies for dynamic trends. Our results demonstrate: (1) a slight but significant change in MHS of both LBC and NLBC, with LBC being significantly worse off over time; (2) a significant deterioration in MHS of LBC over time, particularly among left-behind boys (LBBs); (3) a stable and significant decline in MHS of left-behind junior high and elementary school students, respectively; and (4) a more substantial degradation in MHS of LBC with both parents absent compared with LBC with a parent present. The findings reveal that the efforts of, and collaboration among, researchers, policy experts and politicians are producing results. Nevertheless, more targeted research is needed to unearth the underlying issues that generate the differences among subpopulations of LBC to better inform pragmatic interventions for collective psychological wellness of LBC.

Association between physical fitness index and psychological symptoms in left-behind children: a cross-sectional study from East China

“…For example, better employment in urban areas usually increases a family's income [4], but long-term parental migration adversely affects parent-child relationships, which may negatively impact the family's well-being [5]. Numerous studies have shown that compared with non-left-behind children (NLBC), LBC have higher risks for physical and mental health issues [6][7][8]. For example, a systematic review revealed that LBC had a higher prevalence of anemia and stunting than NLBC [9].…”

Why and how do parents secretly abandon their children? The psychosocial burden they went through: Qualitative case study in Gondar City, Ethiopia

“…Studies consistently indicated that growing up without parental care and supervision is associated with a number of physical, mental, educational and social problems. Global evidences have depicted that children who lost their parents in their childhood experienced mental health problems (Gao et al, 2022;Misra et al, 2019;Wu et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2022), retarded growth (Tian et al, 2017), elevated risk of mortality (Hiyoshi et al, 2021), poor academic performance and attainments (Cas et al, 2014; Kailaheimo-Lönnqvist & Kotimäki, 2020), etc.…”

Associations between left-behind characteristics and children’s psychological symptoms: A cross-sectional study from China

“…Furthermore, studies have shown that LBC are more likely to have poor lifestyles, including internet addiction [10], smoking [11], excessive drinking [12], and skipping breakfast [13], compared with non-left-behind-children (NLBC). LBC are also at risk of suffering from various psychological problems [14][15][16],…”