Victimization of Children Left Behind in Rural China

Abstract

Objectives: Examine the relationship between parental rural-to-urban migration, caretaking arrangement, and left-behind children's self-reported victimization in rural China. The direct effect of parental migration on children's victimization as well as the indirect effect through positive caretaking and children's delinquent/problem behavior involvement is explored. Methods: The study uses data from the Parental Migration and Children's Well-being Survey, which collected information on parental migration and children's experience of victimization from a probability sample of 800 middle school students in southern China. Structural equation modeling is used to evaluate hypothesized models by simultaneously assessing direct and indirect effects. Results: Compared with children living with both parents in rural China, children left behind by their fathers have an elevated level of victimization. In addition, the chronic absence of fathers leads to a higher level of delinquent and problem behavior among left-behind children, which in turn leads to further victimization. Conclusion: Left-behind children living with

Are Grandparents Better Caretakers? Parental Migration, Caretaking Arrangements, Children’s Self-Control, and Delinquency in Rural China

“…Our bivariate and multivariate analysis provides some explanations for the advantage of grandparenting over one-parent-led families in rural China. First, our results suggested that compared with those living with one parent, children in the care of grandparents were under closer watch and supervision, which, according to the lifestyle and routine activities theories (X. Chen et al, 2017), reduces children’s involvement in delinquency.…”

“…A small number of researchers attempt to investigate the social processes underlying the associations between caretaking arrangements and delinquency. Although limited, this line of research suggests that alternative caretaking arrangements are proximate indicators of a myriad of social factors predictive of delinquency, including weakened bonding with parents or parental figures, lessened adult supervision and monitoring, and association with deviant peers (X. Chen et al, 2017; Parreñas, 2005; Wen & Lin, 2012).…”

“…Chen et al, 2017; Parreñas, 2005; Wen & Lin, 2012). Consistent caretaking, such as strict monitoring and supervision, is significantly reduced if one parent migrates, which leads to much increased household responsibilities for the other parent left behind, caretaker–child conflict, and children’s increased unsupervised time with peers (Chang, Dong, & Macphail, 2011; X. Chen et al, 2017).…”

“…A recent national survey estimates that as many as 61 million children are left behind in rural areas by their migrant parents, accounting for more than 20% of the child population in China (All-China Women’s Federation, 2013). The size of this highly vulnerable group and the so-called “left-behind syndrome”—including poor physical and mental health, tenuous bonding with parents and friends, conduct problems, exposure to victimization, and low school performance—have generated many public anxieties (X. Chen, Liang, & Ostertag, 2017; Ding & Bao, 2014; Lu, 2012; Wen & Lin, 2012).…”

Timing and duration of paternal migration and the educational attainment of left‐behind children: Evidence from rural China

“…These left-behind children are vulnerable without the care and protection of their migrant fathers. They are more susceptible to being victims of crimes, psychological problems, accidents, and injuries, and they are also prone to conduct asocial and criminal activities, compared with rural children in nonmigrant households (Chen, Liang, & Ostertag, 2017;Fu, Xue, & Zhou, 2017;Lee & Park, 2010;Liu, Li, & Ge, 2009;Wu, Li, & Chen, 2016;Zhan, Li, Liu, & Zhang, 2014). However, there is no consensus on how paternal migration affects left-behind children's education in rural China (Bai et al, 2018;Chen, Huang, Rozelle, Shi, & Zhang, 2009;Lee & Park, 2010;Li, Wang, & Nie, 2017;Meng & Yamauchi, 2017;Wang, 2014;Zhao, Yu, Wang, & Glauben, 2014).…”