Migration of adult children and quality of life of older parents left‐behind in Nepal

Abstract

Studies regarding the impact of adult children's migration on older parents left-behind have focused on physical and mental health. This study assessed the relationship between migration of adult children and quality of life (QOL) of older parents left-behind in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was carried out (May-July 2019) among 791 randomly selected older adults aged ≥60 years. QOL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-abbreviated scale, and migration status was assessed into three categories: no migration, internal migration only and any international migration. A range of sociodemographic characteristics were measured for adjustment. Associations between migration of children and each domain of the QOL were examined by multilevel mixed regression. Results: Scores for QOL were; 58.8 ± 19.8 for physical, 63.7 ± 18.0 for psychological, 60.7 ± 16.2 for social, and 61.8 ± 15.0 for environmental domains. This study identified positive and null associations between the migration of children and QOL for parents, with higher scores for physical (b = 5.16, P = 0.017) and environmental (b = 3.19, P = 0.046) domains among left-behind parents whose children migrated internally compared with parents whose children did not migrate. Conclusions: The findings differ from previous research showing poorer QOL among leftbehind older parents. Migration plays a significant role in shaping physical and environmental QOL among left-behind parents living in rural areas with important implications for migrants, their families, researchers and social scientists.

Prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among older adults: A cross‐sectional population‐based study

“…A companion report from this study reporting on the quality of life of older adults left behind is in press (Thapa, Visentin, Kornhaber, & Cleary, 2020), with two additional reports on the validation of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS‐21) and the mental health of the left‐behind older parents currently under review.…”

The Effect of Migration on Family in Nepal: A Review on the Family Structure, Livelihood, Education, Aging Parents, Reproductive Health and Marital Relationship

“…However, Mehata et al (2020) mention that about a third of the households (30%) had a least one member of the family migrated and the proportion of migration is higher in the rural and disadvantaged regions of Nepal. Employment is the main reason for migration (70%), with remittances from international migrants the primary income source for many households (Thapa et al, 2020).…”

“…The more recent study by Thapa et al (2020) finds the different result that quality of life among the parents with internal migrant children is better due to their frequent interaction with and visits from their children during family rituals and at times of labor demand for agricultural work, especially sowing and harvesting which will provide both monetary and emotional support to the elderly people.…”

Psychometric properties of the Nepali language version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS‐21)

“…Companion papers from this study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of mental health symptoms (Thapa et al., 2020a ) and the quality of life of older parents left‐behind (Thapa et al., 2020b ), and a further paper describing the mental health of left‐behind older parents is currently under review (authors).…”