Effects of structural‐economic and socio‐relational exclusion on well‐being of Chinese migrant children

Abstract

Social exclusion is a widely accepted risk factor for child well‐being, but relatively little is known about its dynamics and effect on multiple well‐being domains. This study aims to extend prior research by examining the influencing mechanisms of structural‐economic and socio‐relational exclusion on the physical, psychological, behavioural and educational well‐being of Chinese migrant children. Multi‐stage cluster random sampling is used to recruit a sample of migrant children (N = 484; Mage = 11.65 years; 52.9% girls) in Kunming, China, and structural equation modelling is used for data analysis. Results indicate that a high level of structural‐economic exclusion predicts a high level of socio‐relational exclusion, which, in turn, leads to low levels of physical, psychological, behavioural and educational well‐being among migrant children. This study not only contributes to the understanding of the dynamic effects of social exclusion but also provides practical implications for social policy and interventions to reduce social exclusion and improve the well‐being of Chinese migrant children.

Sex Differences in Patterns of Childhood Traumatic Experiences in Chinese Rural-To-Urban Migrant Children

“…According to Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, it was estimated that approximately 34 million migrant children lived in urban China, with the majority of them being school-age children. Rural-to-urban migrant children in China suffer from a range of migration-related disadvantages compared with their local peers, including economic challenges, educational inequality, and social discrimination [ 2 , 3 ]. The dualistic household registration system that assigns the children to either rural or urban status limits their access to social welfare and educational resources, making them vulnerable to discrimination based on their migrant status [ 4 ].…”

Perspectives on Migrant Children’s Mental Health Needs and Existing Services: A Qualitative Study Among Psychological Service Providers of Chinese Social Organizations

“…The unstable living environment negatively affects children’s growth and development, while migration alters the family’s interpersonal network and breaks the child’s normal school schedule. 5 Firstly, they try to integrate into urban life and perceive the massive differences between regions; secondly, their lives have been in a “mobile state” since childhood, and they experience more “uncertainty”; thirdly, the concept of geography and bloodline gradually weakens. While they have no access to the local culture, they also lack the identity of urban groups and do not develop a sense of belonging to the cities where they migrate.…”