The Impact of Perceived Discrimination on Mental Health Among Chinese Migrant and Left-Behind Children: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

In China, rural–urban migration is one of major influences on the mental health of migrant and left-behind children. Literature suggests that the perception of discrimination is an important factor that influences the mental health of these children. The present research explores (1) whether migrant children and left-behind children are different in the relationship between the perception of discrimination and mental health, and (2) whether the relationship between the perception of discrimination and mental health of these children is moderated by gender and age. Using a meta-analytic technique, the authors included 26 studies (generating 48 independent samples) with a total sample size of 28,883 participants. Results showed that the perception of discrimination of migrant children was negatively correlated with positive indicators of mental health, and it has a stronger effect than left-behind children; the perception of discrimination of migrant children was positively correlated with negative indicators of mental health, and it has a weaker effect than left-behind children. Additionally, gender moderated the relationship between the perception of discrimination and the positive indicators of mental health among left-behind children, while age moderated such relationship among migrant children.

Parental migration and the social and mental wellbeing challenges among Indonesia left-behind children: A qualitative study

“…To our knowledge, this study marks the first qualitative exploration of how parental migration and its associated factors affect the social and mental wellbeing of LBC in Indonesia. Parental labour migration or the absence of one or both parents in LBC's lives has negative social consequences, including stigma and discrimination against them, which have been associated with these children's increased stress, depression and suicidal ideation and behaviours [44][45][46]. Our findings echo these social consequences, highlighting the negative impact of parent migration on LBC's social wellbeing reflected in withdrawal from or broken social relationships with peers.…”

Parental Migration and the Social and Mental Well-Being Challenges among Indonesian Left-Behind Children: A Qualitative Study

“…To our knowledge, this study marks the first qualitative exploration of how parental migration and its associated factors affect the social and mental well-being of LBC in Indonesia. Parental labour migration or the absence of one or both parents in LBC’s lives has negative social consequences, including stigma and discrimination against them, which have been associated with increased stress, depression, and suicidal ideation and behaviours among them [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Our findings echo these social consequences, highlighting the negative impact of one or both parents’ migration on LBC’s social well-being reflected in withdrawal from or broken social relationships with peers.…”

The Influence Factors of Left-behind Children’s Inferiority

“…Moreover, because left-behind children are introverted and not willing to communicate with other people, they can not communicate with other people efficiently. This leads that left-behind children can easily have conflicts with others, which make them easier to be discriminated [12]. Then they would have high self-esteem and hope to get acknowledgement and praise from other people to improve their confidence.…”