1
|
Yang Z. Cognitive abilities, insurance decisions, and labor supply behavior: evidence from rural China. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1421600. [PMID: 39005991 PMCID: PMC11239384 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1421600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction How cognitive abilities affect financial and economic decision is an important issue that has attracted the attention of economics. Method This paper uses the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2010, 2014, and 2018 survey data to empirically test the impact of cognitive skills on the insurance participation decisions in rural China. Results and discussion The results show that higher word ability is correlated to higher social health insurance participation and both word and math ability leads to higher social pension participation. Mechanism analysis reveals that individuals with higher cognitive skills are more likely to be affected by peers in insurance decision, and higher cognitive skills increase personal income that enables them to enroll in the social insurance. Further investigation of labor supply behavior suggests that while cognitive skills positively affect non-agricultural labor participation, cognitive skills amplify the negative effect of social security on labor supply.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Yang
- Central University of Finance and Economic, School of Insurance, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li X, Qiao S, Zhang D. Childhood migration experience and adult health: evidence from China's rural migrants. Arch Public Health 2024; 82:53. [PMID: 38649944 PMCID: PMC11034081 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-024-01280-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Place of residence plays an influential role in shaping individual development, and studies have established links between Childhood migration experience (CME) and health outcomes through maturity. Over the past three decades, China has undergone one of the largest rural-to-urban migrations, however, little is known about the effect of CME on rural migrants' adult health in China. METHODS Data from 7035 members of the 2016 and 2018 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey were analyzed. CME was measured by whether the place of residence and place of birth changed at the age of 14 years. Three measures of health (self-assessed health, BMI, and mental health scale) were obtained. Causal inferential analysis was performed, using the Probit model, the OLS model and the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method, to explore the impact of CME on the adult health of rural migrants. RESULTS Overall, compared to individuals who did not migrate in childhood, the probability of reporting "very unhealthy", "rather unhealthy", and "fair" in the self-assessed health of the rural migrants with CME decreased by 0.23%, 1.55%, and 5.53%, the probability of reporting "healthy" and "very healthy" increased by 1.94% and 5.38%, the probability of BMI within the normal range was higher by 7.32%, and the mental health test scores were 0.2591 points higher significantly. Furthermore, in comparison with childhood non-migration, both cross-county and cross-city migration promoted the health status of rural migrants, but the positive effect of cross-province migration was not significant; from the gender perspective, CME could more dramatically improve rural women's adult health than men, especially in mental health. CONCLUSION CME can significantly improve adult health, including physical and mental health, and the positive effect is more obvious among women, helping to reduce gender differences in health. For the migration distance, attention can be focused on the long-distance migrating individuals, who should get more support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Li
- College of Economics, Guizhou University, 550025, Guiyang, China
| | - Shiyan Qiao
- College of Economics, Guizhou University, 550025, Guiyang, China.
| | - Dongying Zhang
- College of Economics, Guizhou University, 550025, Guiyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li C, Maimaiti S, Zhou Z, Zang L. Secular trends and urban-rural disparities in height of Chinese adolescents aged 18 years from 1985 to 2019. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e23988. [PMID: 38214463 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the secular trends and urban-rural disparities in height of Chinese adolescents aged 18 years from 1985 to 2019. METHODS Data were extracted from the Chinese National Surveys on Students' Constitution and Health from 1985 to 2019, and the heights of a total of 76 554 boys and 75 908 girls aged 18 years were measured. The Mann-Kendall trend test was used to analyze the secular trends in height. Changes in different periods and urban-rural disparities were tested by z-tests and calculating the ratios of the coefficient of variation (CV) of height. RESULTS The height of Chinese boys and girls aged 18 years increased from 168.21 and 157.10 cm in 1985 to 172.15 cm and 160.11 cm in 2019, respectively, with a larger increase in rural areas. The secular trends in height were the largest for boys from 1995 to 2005 and for girls from 2014 to 2019, and the same results were observed in urban and rural areas. The urban-rural disparities for boys and girls decreased by 1.79 and 0.91 cm, respectively, with significant decreases for boys in all regions and for girls in the eastern region. The overall CVs of height increased by 0.13% and 0.25% for boys and girls, respectively, with the largest increase among rural girls. CONCLUSIONS The height of Chinese adolescents aged 18 years continued to increase between 1985 and 2019. The urban-rural disparities narrowed, and inequalities within rural areas for girls increased.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengyue Li
- Institute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - Sigandan Maimaiti
- School of Physical Education and Health, Changji University, Urumqi, China
| | - Zhidong Zhou
- Institute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| | - Liuhong Zang
- Institute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Qiu F, Zhang H. Health Crowding-Out Effect of Family Migration on First Cohort Migrant Workers: An Empirical Analysis. INQUIRY : A JOURNAL OF MEDICAL CARE ORGANIZATION, PROVISION AND FINANCING 2024; 61:469580241258899. [PMID: 38884275 PMCID: PMC11185040 DOI: 10.1177/00469580241258899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
In the dynamic panorama of China's shifting social mobility, characterized by a transition from individual to family mobility, the migration of the first cohort of migrant workers and their families has taken center stage. However, the scholarly discourse on how family migration influences the health of migrant workers remains contentious. This study uses data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) of 2017 to focus on the first cohort of migrant workers. Drawing on the theories of family stress and life course, the empirical analysis incorporated heterogeneity tests, total effects, robustness tests, mediation effects, and propensity score matching to explore the mechanisms underlying the impact of family migration on migrant workers' health. Data analysis reveals a substantial negative impact of family migration on the health status of the first cohort of migrant workers. Variations in health outcomes were identified across different family migration patterns. Further analysis indicates that the first cohort of migrant workers, when confronted with family livelihood pressures, tends to prioritize economic resources to support urban family life over their own health. This is because they are influenced by a family-centered culture. Our findings reveal a nuanced landscape. While family migration provides potentially enhances social support systems, it also imposes significant health trade-offs due to increased life stressors. These stressors include economic instability, increased responsibility for family care, and the psychological impacts of adapting to new urban environments. There are the health crowding-out effect of family migration on first cohort migrant workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengxian Qiu
- School of Law, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Houyi Zhang
- School of Law, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yu Y, Liu C, Chen K, Li S. Parental migration and children's dietary diversity at home: Evidence from rural China. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291041. [PMID: 38060621 PMCID: PMC10703207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing literature documenting the link between parental migration and children's health. However, few studies have explained the underlying mechanism of this observed relationship. This paper examines the effect of parental migration on children's health through dietary diversity, using survey data collected in a less developed prefecture in South Central China in 2018. To overcome the potential endogeneity of parental migration, we instrument parental migration with the proportion of households with migrated labor force at the village level, and find that parental migration reduces children's dietary diversity at home. Moreover, we provide suggestive evidence that the reduction in dietary diversity may attribute to significant negative separation effects whereas minimal positive income effects in migrant-sending households. This study highlights the negative effects of labor migration on the next generation's nutrition. In those developing countries with a high prevalence of labor migration, policies that facilitate access to dietary diversity of those left-behind children are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Yu
- China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengfang Liu
- China Center for Agricultural Policy, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kevin Chen
- China Academy for Rural Development, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- International Food Policy Research Institute, East and Central Asia Office, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoping Li
- China Center for Agricultural Policy, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang S, Wang Y, Lu Y, Zhang H, Wang F, Liu Z. Long-term effects of the left-behind experience on health and its mechanisms: Empirical evidence from China. Soc Sci Med 2023; 338:116315. [PMID: 37952432 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have primarily focused on the contemporaneous, short-term and medium-term effects of the childhood left-behind experience on subsequent health, but ignored its long-term effects and the mediating mechanisms of health outcomes. Using nationally representative data from the 2018 China Labor-force Dynamic Survey, this study uses self-rated health as a measure of health outcomes to examine the long-term effects of the left-behind experience and elucidate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to health inequality from a life-course perspective. The results show: (1) the childhood left-behind experience exerts a long-term negative impact on self-rated health in adulthood, and this impact persists and does not fade over time after ending the left-behind status; (2) the influence of the childhood left-behind experience on self-rated health demonstrates a cumulative disadvantage effect, with longer duration of being left-behind resulting in greater negative impacts; additionally, there's a critical window effect, with earlier left-behind experience leading to more significant negative outcomes; (3) the experience of being left behind during childhood has a negative impact and threshold effect on social trust in adulthood, meaning that the left-behind experience negatively affects social trust, but the duration of being left behind doesn't exacerbate this reduction; and (4) social trust is a key mediating factor between left-behind experiences and health, explaining 8.70% of this effect, and explaining 12.15% and 7.71% of mediation effects for adults with left-behind experience in middle and primary school stages, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Yang
- Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Sociology and Culturology, Zhejiang Institute of Adminstration, China.
| | - Yuan Lu
- Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Hanhan Zhang
- School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China.
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Zhijun Liu
- Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Social Survey and Research Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chang F, Huo Y, Zhang S, Zeng H, Tang B. The impact of boarding schools on the development of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities in adolescents. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1852. [PMID: 37742020 PMCID: PMC10517520 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since China adopted a policy to eliminate rural learning centers, boarding has become an important feature of the current rural student community. However, there is a lack of consensus on the impact of boarding schools on students' cognitive and non-cognitive development. This study investigates the effect of boarding schools on the development of cognitive and non-cognitive abilities of junior high school students in rural northwest China. METHODS Using a sample of 5,660 seventh-grade students from 160 rural junior high schools across 19 counties, we identify a causal relationship between boarding and student abilities with the instrumental variables (IV) approach. RESULTS The results suggest that boarding positively influences memory and attention, while it has no significant effect on other cognitive abilities such as reasoning, transcription speed, and accuracy. Furthermore, we find no significant association between boarding and the development of non-cognitive skills. CONCLUSIONS Given the widespread prevalence of boarding schools in rural regions, our study highlights the growing importance of improving school management to promote the development of students' cognitive abilities and integrating the development of non-cognitive or social-emotional abilities into students' daily routines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Chang
- Center of Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University Shaanxi Province, No. 620 West Chang’an Street, Chang’an District, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Yanan Huo
- Center of Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University Shaanxi Province, No. 620 West Chang’an Street, Chang’an District, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Songyan Zhang
- Center of Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University Shaanxi Province, No. 620 West Chang’an Street, Chang’an District, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Hang Zeng
- Center of Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University Shaanxi Province, No. 620 West Chang’an Street, Chang’an District, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Bin Tang
- Center of Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University Shaanxi Province, No. 620 West Chang’an Street, Chang’an District, Xi’an, 710119 China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hu X, Xiao B. The Effect of Emotional Neglect on Cyberbullying among Rural Chinese Left-behind Adolescents-Mediating Role of Social Anxiety. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1055. [PMID: 37371286 DOI: 10.3390/children10061055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cyberbullying is a globally shared youth problem-a problem of the interpersonal conflicts and contradictions that emerge during the socialization of adolescents. In particular, the issue of cyberbullying among rural left-behind adolescents needs to be given high priority. However, previous studies have paid little attention to how emotional neglect and social anxiety affect the cyberbullying behavior of rural left-behind adolescents. Therefore, this study was based on cognitive-behavioral theory to investigate the relationship between emotional neglect, cyberbullying, and social anxiety. METHODS This study used the Emotional Neglect Scale, the Cyberbullying Scale, and the Social Anxiety Scale to conduct an anonymous online survey of 1429 rural left-behind adolescents in China. RESULTS (1) Emotional neglect, social anxiety, and cyberbullying showed a two-way positive correlation. (2) The direct effect of emotional neglect on rural left-behind youth cyberbullying was significant (β = 0.14, p < 0.00). (3) Social anxiety showed a partial mediating effect in the process of emotional neglect affecting rural left-behind youth cyberbullying, with a mediating effect of 26.32%. CONCLUSIONS The results have positive implications for improving relevant policies and constructing mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of rural left-behind adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Hu
- School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ruang R, Vaughan KR, Wang X. Life Strain, Negative Emotions, and Religious Involvement in Contemporary China. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023:10.1007/s10943-023-01808-5. [PMID: 37043127 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01808-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Explaining religious growth in China remains a challenge for social scientists. Research on Western nations establishes religion as a powerful resource for coping with life strain. However, China's sociopolitical context, which often treats religion as deviant, is thought to function as a deterrent to conversion. When individuals experience life strain, they respond with negative emotions. Because those who experience strain may turn to non-traditional and deviant activities, we argue that they will be less deterred by China's negative framing of religion when seeking resources for coping. Applying lagged dependent variable models to the 2012-2014 China Family Panel Study, we find that life strain is associated with increases in religious affiliation, service attendance, and salience. Further analyses show that negative emotions mediate the effects of life strain on religiosity. Our study makes a substantial contribution to multiple bodies of literature by applying a theory of deviance to the study of religion, modernization, and mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rongping Ruang
- School of Agricultural Economics & Rural Development, Renmin University, Beijing, China
| | - Kenneth R Vaughan
- Department of Sociology, Gerontology, and Substance Abuse Studies, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK, USA.
- Department of Sociology, University of Connecticut, Storrs/Waterbury, CT, USA.
| | - Xiuhua Wang
- Department of Sociology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mu Z, Hu S. Unequal childhoods in China: Parental education and children's time use. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:695-723. [PMID: 34551135 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Drawing on Lareau's binary conceptualization of parenting as concerted cultivation and accomplishment of natural growth, we examine how parental background determines the degree to which the two parenting practices are realized in China. To do so, we examine how parental education shapes children's weekly time use patterns on planned activities (academic and nonacademic) and unplanned activities. Using multi-level mixed-effects linear models based on the 2014 China Education Panel Survey, we find that parental education is positively associated with concerted cultivation, with children spending more hours on both planned academic and nonacademic activities, and negatively associated with accomplishment of natural growth, with children spending more hours on unplanned activities. The link between parental education and children's time use patterns is partly explained by parents' educational expectations for their children, parental supervision, parental support, and economic investments on education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Mu
- Department of Sociology and Centre for Family and Population Research, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shu Hu
- Sociology Programme, School of Humanities and Behavioural Sciences, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tian FF, Jing Y, Liu J. Community social capital, migration status, and Chinese rural children's psychosocial development. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:605-625. [PMID: 34897731 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Migration's impact on Chinese rural children's psychosocial development is the subject of growing research attention. While scholars highlight the critical role of social support, they have yet to systematically examine whether and how community social capital, which provides proximal social support for families, affects rural children's psychosocial development as well as whether such associations vary by children's migration status. Using data from the child component of the 2012 Chinese Urbanization and Labor Migration Survey, this article shows that community social capital reduces children's behavioral and emotional problems; however, left-behind children and migrant children gain less from community social capital than children with at-home parents. In addition, left-behind girls fare worse and gain less from community social capital than left-behind boys. Together, these findings imply that community social capital reinforces the disadvantaged psychosocial development of rural children who experience parental migration and evidence the enduring gender inequality in rural China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felicia F Tian
- Department of Sociology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongchao Jing
- Department of Sociology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Jingming Liu
- Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lu N, Lu W, Chen R, Tang W. The Causal Effects of Urban-to-Urban Migration on Left-behind Children's Well-Being in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4303. [PMID: 36901311 PMCID: PMC10001494 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As China's urbanization process deepens, more and more residents of small and medium-sized cities are moving to large cities, and the number of left-behind children is increasing. In this paper, using data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), a nationally representative survey sample, we examine the well-being of left-behind children with urban household registration at the junior high school level and the causal effects of parental migration on their well-being. Research findings indicate that children who are left behind in urban areas are at a disadvantage in most aspects of their well-being compared to urban non-left-behind children. We examine the determinants of urban household registration for left-behind children. Children in families with lower socioeconomic status, more siblings, and poorer health were more likely to be left behind. In addition, our counterfactual framework reveals that, on average, staying behind negatively impacts the well-being of urban children, based on the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Compared to non-migrant children, left-behind children had significantly lower physical health, mental health, cognitive ability, academic performance, school affiliation, and relationships with their parents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Lu
- School of Economics and Management, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
- Jiangsu Yangtze River Economic Belt Research Institute, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
- Shanghai Metropolitan Area Research Institute, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Wenting Lu
- School of Economics and Management, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Renxing Chen
- Center for Quality of Life and Public Policy Research, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Wanzhi Tang
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ge Q, Zhou Y, Sun Z, Jiang X, Zhang L, Yang C, Guo Y, Luo T, Fu Y, Xu Q, Chen Y, Zhou W, Wu Q, Lian X, Liu Z, Lin Y. A cross-sectional study on knowledge and behavior regarding medication usage among guardians of left-behind children: evidence from China. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:111. [PMID: 36647024 PMCID: PMC9841683 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-14989-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The primary objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge and behavior of medication use among guardians of left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (NLBC). METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chengdu, the major city of southwestern China from May 2020 to August 2020. A logistic regression model was conducted to assess medication-related knowledge and behavior of guardians between the LBC group and NLBC group, adjusted for confounders. Stratified analysis was further performed. RESULTS The overall mean scores for knowledge and for behavior were 20.22 (standard deviation = 4.472) and 15.77 (standard deviation = 3.604), respectively. No significant difference was found in medication-related knowledge and behavior scores between LBC and NLBC guardians (P > 0.05). A significant difference was only observed after adjusting for past medical history and history of present illness (HPI). CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in the awareness and behavior of medication use between guardians of LBC and NLBC in this study, having more contact with the doctor was an effective method of health education that could possibly improve their health literacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyue Ge
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581 Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zeyuan Sun
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Xia Jiang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581 Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581 Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunsong Yang
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yixin Guo
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Luo
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuzhi Fu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qunfen Xu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Wu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianghong Lian
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhenmi Liu
- Institute of Systems Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yunzhu Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Evidence-based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Shi X, Chen K, Liu C, Yu Y. Does money matter for child nutrition? Exploration of a preschool nutrition program in rural South-Central China. Nutrition 2023; 105:111850. [PMID: 36334531 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between poverty and children's nutritional outcomes. METHODS Drawing on a 2018 survey of the preschool nutrition program conducted in the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, China, we applied propensity score matching to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated children. RESULTS The most striking result was that although poverty is often used as predictive of poor childhood nutrition, this effect was only significant for weight-for-age z-score and height-for-age z-score, but not for other nutritional indicators, cognition, or social emotional indexes. The results varied using different measures of poverty. The weak linkage between poverty and children's nutritional outcomes was confirmed by a series of robustness checks by changing the covariates for matching, adopting other matching methods, using bootstrapping standard errors, and building on machine learning tools. CONCLUSIONS A single tool of small money transfer would have limited effects, but considerable income increases that lift the poor out of poverty are important for the poor. Additionally, a mixed tool of financial support and nutritional knowledge may lead to better outcomes, especially for those living above the poverty line.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinjie Shi
- China Academy for Rural Development, School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kevin Chen
- China Academy for Rural Development, School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; International Food Policy Research Institute, Beijing Office, Beijing, China.
| | - Chengfang Liu
- China Center for Agricultural Policy, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanying Yu
- China Academy for Rural Development, School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Seo BK, Hwang IH, Sun Y, Chen J. Homeownership, Depression, and Life Satisfaction in China: The Gender and Urban-Rural Disparities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14833. [PMID: 36429551 PMCID: PMC9690236 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study examines how depression and life satisfaction are associated with assets in the form of homeownership in China and whether their relationships differ between men and women, and between urban and rural areas. While the psychological benefits of homeownership are well-documented, how gender makes a difference in this relationship remains unclear. Given the dynamic housing market conditions characterized by the urban-rural divide and the notable gender gap in psychological well-being, China can provide a relevant context to address this knowledge gap. A series of linear regression analyses based on the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data show that homeownership is positively associated with life satisfaction and negatively related to depression, and this relationship is driven by men. While the homeownership-life satisfaction relation does not differ between urban and rural areas, the negative association between homeownership and depression is seen only among rural residents. The gender difference could be explained by the salient role of the financial security obtained from homeownership, whereas the regional difference seems to be supported by the social comparison theory. This study contributes to the knowledge of how a biological determinant, i.e., gender, interacts with a social determinant, i.e., homeownership, to affect psychological well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Kyong Seo
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Centre for Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - In Hyee Hwang
- Department of Political Science, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Korea
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Building and Real Estate, Research Institute for Land and Space, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, Mental Health Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Fan X. Unpacking the Association between Family Functionality and Psychological Distress among Chinese Left-Behind Children: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Internet Addiction. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192013327. [PMID: 36293906 PMCID: PMC9603780 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Family functionality has been proven to be associated with adolescents' and children's mental health, but its indirect mechanisms among left-behind children have rarely been investigated in the Chinese context. This study aims to explore the direct effect of family functionality on psychological distress and the mediating roles of social support and Internet addiction among Chinese left-behind children. Based on multistage random sampling, 1355 students were recruited to participate in a school-based questionnaire survey in Jiangsu Province. Structural equation modeling using Amos 26.0 was used to test the direct and indirect paths of the variables. The results support our hypotheses, suggesting that family functionality has a direct effect on the psychological distress of left-behind children. Meanwhile, the association between family functionality and psychological distress is mediated by social support and Internet addiction, separately and sequentially. The findings suggest that effective social work interventions for psychological distress should be targeted toward social support and Internet addiction among left-behind children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Fan
- School of Social Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jiang S, Ngai SSY. Effects of structural-economic and socio-relational exclusion on well-being of Chinese migrant children. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:1847-1857. [PMID: 34515394 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- Department of Sociology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Steven Sek-Yum Ngai
- Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
The Peer Effect on Dietary and Nutritional Cognition among Primary School Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137727. [PMID: 35805385 PMCID: PMC9266065 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study uses data from a 2018 survey of 11,384 students in five Chinese provinces to investigate the peer effect on students’ dietary and nutritional cognition. Children’s eating habits have an important impact on their growth and health. Studies have shown that students’ dietary behavior is mainly affected by their dietary and nutritional cognition. Therefore, studying the influencing factors of elementary school students’ cognition of diet and nutrition has become an important research question. However, there are few discussions about the impact of peers’ dietary and nutritional cognition on students’ cognition of diet and nutrition. Consequently, this paper studied the peer effect on students’ cognition of diet and nutrition. The results indicated that peers had a significant impact on the students’ dietary and nutritional cognition. The endogeneity problem was solved using peers’ parents’ dietary and nutritional cognition scores and average educational level as instrumental variables. The impact of peer cognition on diet and nutrition was heterogeneous among different groups. The significance and degree of the peer effect differed based on peer relations, gender, age and school. The results indicated that in addition to family, school, teachers and other factors, peers were an important influencing factor.
Collapse
|
19
|
Hoffmann NI. A "Win-Win Exercise"? The Effect of Westward Migration on Educational Outcomes of Eastern European Children. JOURNAL OF ETHNIC AND MIGRATION STUDIES 2022; 50:891-913. [PMID: 38559873 PMCID: PMC10977665 DOI: 10.1080/1369183x.2022.2087057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Since the end of the Cold War, millions of migrants from Eastern Europe have sought better opportunities in Western European countries, yet few studies have assessed the impact of such moves on these migrants' children. In the aim of isolating a "treatment effect" of migration on educational outcomes, this study analyzes Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores from 2012, 2015, and 2018 for adolescents born in twelve Eastern European countries and living in eight Western European countries. It employs propensity-score matching within a homeland dissimilation framework, comparing immigrants' outcomes on reading, math, and science assessments to similar stay-at-homes in their countries of origin. In unadjusted comparisons to their counterparts who remained behind, migrant children attain lower scores across all three subjects. Once immigrant children are matched to non-immigrants with similar propensities to migrate, the disparity for math scores disappears, while those for reading and science remain. Disparities are wider for adolescents who come from within the EU, migrate at older ages, or speak a foreign language at home. This paper indicates the need for policymakers and educational administrators to better handle the negative academic effects that migration can have on children from within Europe.
Collapse
|
20
|
Zheng X, Zhang Y, Jiang W. Internal Migration and Depression Among Junior High School Students in China: A Comparison Between Migrant and Left-Behind Children. Front Psychol 2022; 13:811617. [PMID: 35432142 PMCID: PMC9006775 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.811617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Using data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), which was a nationally representative sample of junior high school students, this study examined the association of internal migration with depression among migrant and left-behind children, while exploring the moderating effect of gender difference and the mediating effects of social relationships. The results showed that migrant children had a significantly lower level of depression than left-behind children. Further, the difference in mental health between migrant children and left-behind children was more prominent for boys than girls. The mechanism analyses indicated that compared to left-behind children, internal migration positively predicted parent–child relationships and peer relationships of migrant children, which in turn reduced their depressive symptoms. Although migrant children suffered from a higher level of teacher discrimination than their left-behind counterparts, it had no significant relationship with depression after controlling for children’s social relationships with parents and peers. Our findings suggested that migrating with parents was helpful to reduce children’s depressive symptoms in comparison with being left behind. Therefore, actions should be implemented to reduce the occurrence of involuntary parent–child separation and the prevalence of children’s depressive disorders due to institutional constraints. In addition, necessary treatments are needed to improve the psychological wellbeing of disadvantaged children, especially among left-behind children with mental illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Zheng
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyu Jiang
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zheng X, Zhang Y, Jiang W. Migrating with parents or left-behind: Associations of internal migration with cognitive and noncognitive outcomes among chinese children. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03095-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
22
|
Zhang Y, Zheng X. Internal migration and child health: An investigation of health disparities between migrant children and left-behind children in China. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265407. [PMID: 35294483 PMCID: PMC8926270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Using data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), this study empirically examines the association between internal migration and child health through an investigation of health disparities between migrant children and left-behind children in China. The results show that, in comparison with being left behind, migrating with parents significantly improves children’s self-reported health, height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ), and reduces their frequency of sickness. These findings remain robust to a suite of robustness checks. Furthermore, the health effects of internal migration are more prominent for children with a rural hukou compared with urban ones. Although migrant children are more likely to experience teacher discrimination, they have higher levels of parental care, family relationships, and peer relationships relative to their left-behind counterparts, which indicates possible mechanisms behind the association between children’s migration and health. Our findings underline the importance of policy improvement and evidence-based interventions aiming at reducing involuntary parent-child separation and facilitating the development in health of disadvantaged children in developing countries like China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaodong Zheng
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Zheng X, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Fang X. Internal Migration Experience and Depressive Symptoms among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:ijerph19010303. [PMID: 35010562 PMCID: PMC8744975 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to examine the association of internal migration experience with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese, as well as explore possible mechanisms of the relationship. Methods: Participants were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationally representative sample of residents aged 45 years and older (n = 43,854). Survey data on depressive symptoms and internal migration experience were collected from biennial CHARLS surveys (CHARLS 2011/2013/2015) and a unique CHARLS life history survey in 2014, respectively. Multiple logistic regressions and the Karlson–Holm–Breen (KHB) method were employed in the statistical analyses. Results: The overall prevalence rate of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults was 34.6%. Internal migration experience was associated with higher risks of depressive symptoms (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02–1.12, p < 0.01), especially among females (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.01–1.14, p < 0.05), middle-aged adults (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.06–1.19, p < 0.001), rural-to-urban migrants who had not obtained an urban hukou (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.07–1.19, p < 0.001), and those who had low migration frequency and first migrated out at 35 years of age or older. Chronic disease (17.98%, p < 0.001), physical injury (7.04%, p < 0.001), medical expenditure (7.98%, p < 0.001), pension insurance (4.91%, p < 0.001), and parent–child interaction (4.45%, p < 0.01) were shown to mediate the association of internal migration experience with depressive symptoms. Conclusions: This study indicates that there is a significant association between internal migration experience and high risks of depression onset later in life. It is suggested to reduce institutional barriers for migrants and implement evidence-based interventions to improve migrants’ mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Zheng
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
- Correspondence:
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Economics, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
| | - Xiangming Fang
- College of Economics and Management, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China;
- School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Shen W, Hu LC, Hannum E. Effect pathways of informal family separation on children's outcomes: Paternal labor migration and long-term educational attainment of left-behind children in rural China. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2021; 97:102576. [PMID: 34045008 PMCID: PMC8442607 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2021.102576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Informal family separation due to parental labor migration is an increasingly common experience in the lives of children in many countries. This paper proposes a framework and method for analyzing "effect pathways" by which parental labor migration might affect children's outcomes. The framework incorporates home-environment and child-development mechanisms and is adapted from migration, sociology of education, and child development literatures. We test these pathways using data on father absence and long-term educational outcomes for girls and boys in China. We apply structural equation models with inverse probability of treatment weighting to data from a 15-year longitudinal survey of 2000 children. Significantly, fathers' migration has distinct implications for different effect pathways. It is associated most significantly with reduced human capital at home, which has the largest detrimental effect on children's educational attainment, among those studied. At the same time, father absence is associated with better family economic capital, which partially buffers the negative implications of father absence. Overall, father absence corresponds to a reduction of 0.342 years, on average, in children's educational attainment, but the reduction is larger for boys than for girls. For boys and girls, the reduced availability of literate adults in the household linked to father absence is an important effect pathway. For girls, this detrimental effect is partially offset by a positive income effect, but for boys, the offset effect is trivial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wensong Shen
- Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 438, 4/F, Sino Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
| | - Li-Chung Hu
- Department of Sociology, National Chengchi University, NO.64, Sec.2, ZhiNan Rd., Wenshan District, Taipei City, 11605, Taiwan.
| | - Emily Hannum
- Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, McNeil Building, Ste. 353, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
The adverse effects of rapid urbanization are of global concern. Careful planning for and accommodation of accelerating urbanization and citizenization (i.e., migrants gaining official urban residency) may be the best approach to limit some of the worst impacts. However, we find that another trajectory may be possible: one linked to the rural development plan adopted in the latest Chinese national development strategy. This plan aims to build rural areas as attractive areas for settlement by 2050 rather than to further urbanize with more people in cities. We assess the political motivations and challenges behind this choice to develop rural areas based on a literature review and empirical case analysis. After assessing the rural and urban policy subsystem, we find five socio-political drivers behind China’s rural development strategy, namely ensuring food security, promoting culture and heritage, addressing overcapacity, emphasizing environmental protection and eradicating poverty. To develop rural areas, China needs to effectively resolve three dilemmas: (1) implementing decentralized policies under central supervision; (2) deploying limited resources efficiently to achieve targets; and (3) addressing competing narratives in current policies. Involving more rural community voices, adopting multiple forms of local governance, and identifying and mitigating negative project impacts can be the starting points to manage these dilemmas.
Collapse
|
26
|
Lu Y, Zhang R, Du H. Family Structure, Family Instability, and Child Psychological Well-Being in the Context of Migration: Evidence From Sequence Analysis in China. Child Dev 2021; 92:e416-e438. [PMID: 33410505 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study conceptualizes parental migration as a dynamic family process that exposes children to parental absence and family instability. Using detailed migration histories, this study identifies the left-behind trajectories of rural Chinese children throughout childhood (age 1-12) and examines the impact on psychological well-being (N = 3,961). Results indicate heterogeneity in children's experience of parental migration, which is characterized by both persistence (prolonged parental absence) and instability (repeated parental migration). A quarter of rural children experienced prolonged parental migration, and for half of these, by both parents. Another 50% of rural children experienced repeated parental migration. Children continuously left behind by both parents and children who experienced substantial family instability both fared worse in psychological development than those in stable two-parent families.
Collapse
|
27
|
Parental Migration and Children’s Early Childhood Development: A Prospective Cohort Study of Chinese Children. POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11113-020-09626-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
28
|
Sun F, Liang Z. Parental migration and anemia status of children in China. Soc Sci Med 2021; 270:113680. [PMID: 33433372 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous literature on parental migration and children's health outcomes mainly focuses on subjective measures and often omits the selectivity issue. Taking advantage of a unique nationally representative longitudinal dataset from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, this paper uses anemia status as an objective measure of children's health outcomes and examines the different effects of parents' current migration status, migration history, and migration duration. The results show that father's migration does not harm children's physical health, especially for children in rural areas, for whom father's migration decreases the likelihood of being anemic; while mother's migration increases the likelihood of being anemic. Importantly, children with return migrant mothers are less likely to experience anemia. We also find that the longer the father migrated, the better the child's health, but mother's longer migration duration is more detrimental. Our findings highlight the gender dimension in the migration story and indicate that policymakers should encourage the return migration of migrant mothers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feinuo Sun
- Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY, 12222, United States.
| | - Zai Liang
- Department of Sociology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave, Albany, NY, 12222, United States; Department of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Science of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Jin X, Chen W, Sun IY, Liu L. Physical health, school performance and delinquency: A comparative study of left-behind and non-left-behind children in rural China. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 109:104707. [PMID: 32932062 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND China's rapid economic development since the late 1970s has resulted in a large-scale migrant population from rural to urban areas, with millions of Chinese children being left behind at home by their parents who migrated to city for work. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study is to test the effects of family, school and background characteristics on left-behind children's (LBC) and non-left-behind children's (NLBC) physical health, school performance, and delinquent behavior. PARTICIPANTS A total of 765 LBC and 468 NLBC in elementary and middle schools participated in the study. SETTING Survey data were collected from three middle schools and seven elementary schools in Wuhan, China. METHODS The dependent variables included three measures of child development: physical health, school performance and delinquent behavior. The independent and control variables were divided into four groups: school and community attachment, parental attachment, parental and children commitment, and background characteristics. Mean comparisons and regression analyses were conducted to assess whether LBC and NLBC differ in their physical health, academic performance and delinquent behavior. RESULTS LBC's physical health is significantly lower than that of NLBC. Being a LBC decreases the odds of being healthy by 51 percent. LBC and NLBC do not differ in their school performance and delinquent behavior. CONCLUSIONS Being left behind without proper parental care appears to be detrimental to child physical wellbeing. The damaging impact of left-behind is limited to physical health as LBC and NLBC reported similar levels of educational performance and delinquent acts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Jin
- School of Sociology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Philosophy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, Hubei, 430073, China.
| | - Ivan Y Sun
- Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19702, United States.
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhang H, Cao X, Yu Y. The Effect of Migrant Children on Migrant Mothers' Employment. INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/imig.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Xue Cao
- Nanjing Forestry University Jiangsu
| | - Yi Yu
- Nanjing Agricultural University Jiangsu
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Introduction to the special collection on life course decisions of families in China. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2020.43.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
|
32
|
The long-run effects of poverty alleviation resettlement on child development: Evidence from a quasi-experiment in China. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2020.43.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
|
33
|
The lasting impact of parental migration on children's education and health outcomes: The case of China. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.4054/demres.2020.43.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
|
34
|
Lei L, Desai S, Chen F. Fathers' Migration and Nutritional Status of Children in India: Do the Effects Vary by Community Context? DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2020; 43:545-580. [PMID: 33354158 PMCID: PMC7751952 DOI: 10.4054/demres.2020.43.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to international and internal migration, millions of children in developing countries are geographically separated from one or both of their parents. Prior research has not reached a consensus on the impacts of parental out-migration on children's growth, and little is known about how community contexts modify the impact of parental out-migration. OBJECTIVE We aim to assess the overall impacts of fathers' previous and current migration experiences on children's nutritional status in India and how the impacts are shaped by community socioeconomic contexts and community gender norms. METHODS Using data from the Indian Human Development Survey collected in 2011-2012, we estimated community fixed-effect regression models predicting the nutritional status of children (ages 10-15) and examined the interactions among fathers' migration, child's gender, and community contexts. RESULTS The results showed that children of returned migrants had lower height and Body Mass Index (BMI) than children of non-migrants. Fathers' current absence was associated with lower height and BMI for adolescents in communities with high levels of socioeconomic development but not for those in communities with low levels of development. Fathers' current absence due to migration was especially harmful for girls in communities with strict norms of female seclusion. CONTRIBUTION Our findings highlight that the effects of father's out-migration on children are conditioned by the level of communities' socioeconomic development and community gender contexts, which helps to reconcile the previously mixed findings on the effects of parental migration on child outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Lei
- Department of Sociology, Rutgers University, Davison Hall, 26 Nichol Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, U.S.A
| | - Sonalde Desai
- Department of Sociology, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland - College Park, 2112 Parren Mitchell Art-Sociology Building, 3834 Campus Dr, College Park, MD 20742, U.S.A
| | - Feinian Chen
- Department of Sociology, Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland - College Park, 2112 Parren Mitchell Art-Sociology Building, 3834 Campus Dr, College Park, MD 20742, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lu Y, Yeung WJJ, Treiman DJ. Parental Migration and Children's Psychological and Cognitive Development in China: Differences and Mediating Mechanisms. CHINESE SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW 2020; 52:337-363. [PMID: 33767910 PMCID: PMC7989854 DOI: 10.1080/21620555.2020.1776600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Internal migration has resulted in a large number of left-behind children in China. Despite growing attention to this population, important gaps remain in our understanding of their cognitive development and the factors that mediate the impact of migration on children. The present study draws on a new nationally representative survey of Chinese children to study the psychological and cognitive development of left-behind children. Results show that rural children left behind by both parents (but not by one parent) are worse off in both psychological well-being and cognitive development than rural children living with both parents. The disadvantage of left-behind children is mediated by their caregivers' emotional well-being, parenting practices, and education. We also find a pronounced rural-urban difference in children's cognitive development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lu
- Department of Sociology, Columbia University
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Huang Y, Liang Z, Song Q, Tao R. Family Arrangements and Children's Education Among Migrants: A Case Study of China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL RESEARCH 2020; 44:484-504. [PMID: 32431471 PMCID: PMC7236558 DOI: 10.1111/1468-2427.12649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
As China is experiencing an urban revolution with massive rural-to-urban migration, millions of children are profoundly affected by their parents' migration and their decision on family arrangement. With the discriminatory Hukou system and harsh living conditions in cities, the dilemma migrant parents face is whether they should bring children to cities or leave them behind. This decision determines the household, school and community environment children live in, which in turn shapes their wellbeing. With a unique strategy of comparing "left behind children" to "migrant children" and a gendered perspective, this paper examines how different family arrangements among migrants and consequent housing conditions and gender dynamics affect children's educational wellbeing. Our findings demonstrate the complex impact of family arrangement on children, which is conditioned on wage income and the gender of absent parent and the child. We find that children from less favorable socioeconomic backgrounds benefit more from moving to cities. Children living with both parents and those living with mother and grandparents tend to do better. While the effect of housing conditions is marginal, family arrangement has a gendered effect on children. Related policy recommendations are provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youqin Huang
- Department of Geography and Planning, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222,
| | - Zai Liang
- Department of Sociology, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12222,
| | | | - Ran Tao
- Department of Economics, Renmin University, Beijing, China, 100872,
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Zhang L, He G, Chen Y, Shi A. Migration status, emotional engagement, and social exclusion in Chinese schools. J Adolesc 2020; 80:192-203. [PMID: 32169719 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since migration has become one of the pressing issues of our time, the school engagement of migrant children in the destination cities has drawn increasing scholarly attention. While most existing studies have focused on the cognitive and behavioral dimensions of school engagement of migrant children compared to local children, the emotional dimension has received less scholarly attention. Using a large-scale, national representative, school-level longitudinal survey data conducted in 2014 in China, this study examined the effect of migration status on children's emotional engagement in school. METHODS This study was conducted with 15,872 Chinese junior high school students (mean age = 13.52, SD = 1.24) using ordered logistic regression. KHB mediation analysis was employed to explain migration-emotional engagement linkage. RESULTS Compared with urban local children, both rural and urban migrant children are less likely to feel closely connected to their peers in school and are more likely to feel bored and to express escapism. The KHB mediation analysis further suggests that compared with the number of friends and proportions of the same-school friends, the percentages of local friends at the same school mediate most of the effect of migration status on all three measures of emotional engagement, particularly for rural migrant children. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed that although both social exclusion and the absence of friendship play statistically significant mediation roles, social exclusion is of vital importance in understanding the differences between migrant and local children in emotional engagement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Guangye He
- Department of Sociology, Nanjing University, China.
| | - Yunsong Chen
- Department of Sociology, Nanjing University, China; Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, China.
| | - Annan Shi
- History, Politics and Economics, University College London, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Growth mindset and academic achievement in Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model of reasoning ability and self-affirmation. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-019-00597-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
39
|
Effect of Parental Migration on the Intellectual and Physical Development of Early School-Aged Children in Rural China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17010339. [PMID: 31947813 PMCID: PMC6981503 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study is to estimate the effect of parent migration on intellectual and physical development of early school-aged children in rural China. Design: setting and participants: The present cross-sectional study participants were a subset from a controlled, cluster-randomized, double-blind trial. From October 2012 to September 2013, the offspring of women who participated in a large trial were examined in the present study. Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-IV) in which validity and reliability were shown to be satisfactory was used to measure the intellectual function and trained anthropometrists measured weight and height of children using standard procedures. Results: The mean difference of FSIQ scores between non-migration and both-parent migration groups was −3.68 (95%CI: −5.49, −1.87). After adjusting for the confounders, the mean difference of full-scale IQ between non-migration and both-parent migration group was −1.97 (95%CI: −3.92, −0.01), the mean differences of perceptual reasoning index and processing speed index were −2.41 (95%CI: −4.50, −0.31) and −2.39 (95%CI: −4.42, −0.35) between two groups respectively. Conclusion: Our results emphasized the impairment of both-parental migration in intellectual function (FSIQ, PRI, PSI) of children. These findings have important policy implications for the Chinese government to prevent the impairment of left-behind children. Further research is required to clarify the mechanisms by which both-parental migration influence the impairment in intellectual function of children.
Collapse
|
40
|
|
41
|
Liang Z, Yue Z, Li Y, Li Q, Zhou A. Choices or Constraints: Education of Migrant Children in Urban China. POPULATION RESEARCH AND POLICY REVIEW 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11113-019-09564-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
42
|
Lu Y, Yeung WJJ, Liu J, Treiman DJ. Health of left-behind children in China: Evidence from mediation analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/2057150x19872685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Internal migration in China has resulted in large numbers of left-behind children. Despite growing attention paid to this population, existing research has not systematically addressed the mediating mechanisms linking parental migration to children's health. The present study examines the influences of migration on the health of left-behind children in China and the mediating channels, using data from a new nationally representative survey. We compare three groups of rural children aged 3–15 years ( N = 2473): those who were left behind by both parents, those who were left behind by one parent and those living with both non-migrant parents. Results show that the health of rural children left behind by both parents (but not by one parent) is worse than the health of children living with both parents. The health disadvantage of these children is mediated by their caregivers' poor health status and caregiving practices. These mediating factors not only have a direct impact on child health but also exert an indirect impact by shaping children's nutritional intakes. Contrary to conventional wisdom, monetary remittances are not a significant mechanism linking migration to child health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lu
- Department of Sociology, Columbia University, NY, USA
| | | | - Jingming Liu
- Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Tam CC, Li X, Benotsch EG, Lin D. A Resilience-Based Intervention Programme to Enhance Psychological Well-Being and Protective Factors for Rural-to-Urban Migrant Children in China. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2019; 12:53-76. [PMID: 31290227 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study evaluated the preliminary efficacy of a pilot trial of a resilience-based intervention programme designed to decrease depression symptoms and improve protective factors (e.g. personal assets, social resources, cultural adaptation self-efficacy, interpreting adversity, and self-esteem) among rural-to-urban migrant children in China. METHODS Participants were 285 fourth and fifth graders from two migrant children schools in Beijing. One school was cluster-randomly assigned as the intervention group (n = 127) and the other was assigned as the wait-list control group (n = 158). Data were collected at baseline and post-intervention with a follow-up rate of 96.8 per cent. RESULTS Multivariate analyses found significantly greater increases in social resources, cultural adaptation self-efficacy, and making positive sense of adversity in the intervention group than in the control group. In the intervention group, migrant children who had moved more often reported a higher increase in personal assets than those who had fewer mobility experience. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that the resilience-based intervention can be efficacious in improving resilience among migrant children in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Chi Tam
- Beijing Normal University, People's Republic of China
| | | | | | - Danhua Lin
- Beijing Normal University, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Lu Y, Yeung JWJ, Liu J, Treiman DJ. Migration and children's psychosocial development in China: When and why migration matters. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2019; 77:130-147. [PMID: 30466870 PMCID: PMC6260944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Migration has affected a large number of children in many settings. Despite growing attention to these children, important gaps remain in our understanding of their psychosocial development, as well as the factors that mediate and moderate the impact of migration on children. The present study examines the influences of migration on children's psychosocial well-being in China using a new nationally representative survey. We compared different groups of children age 3-15, including migrant children, left-behind children, and rural and urban children in nonmigrant families. Results show that rural children left behind by both parents were significantly worse off in psychological and behavioral well-being than rural nonmigrant children. By contrast, rural children left behind by one parent and migrant children were no worse off. The disadvantage of left-behind children was mediated by their caregivers' emotional well-being and parenting practices. Frequent contact with migrant parents, but not receipt of remittances, helped ameliorate the vulnerability of left-behind children. These results add to our understanding of how migration affects child development in general.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lu
- Columbia University, United States.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Fellmeth G, Rose-Clarke K, Zhao C, Busert LK, Zheng Y, Massazza A, Sonmez H, Eder B, Blewitt A, Lertgrai W, Orcutt M, Ricci K, Mohamed-Ahmed O, Burns R, Knipe D, Hargreaves S, Hesketh T, Opondo C, Devakumar D. Health impacts of parental migration on left-behind children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet 2018; 392:2567-2582. [PMID: 30528471 PMCID: PMC6294734 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32558-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, a growing number of children and adolescents are left behind when parents migrate. We investigated the effect of parental migration on the health of left behind-children and adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS For this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsychINFO, Global Index Medicus, Scopus, and Popline from inception to April 27, 2017, without language restrictions, for observational studies investigating the effects of parental migration on nutrition, mental health, unintentional injuries, infectious disease, substance use, unprotected sex, early pregnancy, and abuse in left-behind children (aged 0-19 years) in LMICs. We excluded studies in which less than 50% of participants were aged 0-19 years, the mean or median age of participants was more than 19 years, fewer than 50% of parents had migrated for more than 6 months, or the mean or median duration of migration was less than 6 months. We screened studies using systematic review software and extracted summary estimates from published reports independently. The main outcomes were risk and prevalence of health outcomes, including nutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight, overweight and obesity, low birthweight, and anaemia), mental health (depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, conduct disorders, self-harm, and suicide), unintentional injuries, substance use, abuse, and infectious disease. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs) and standardised mean differences (SMDs) using random-effects models. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42017064871. FINDINGS Our search identified 10 284 records, of which 111 studies were included for analysis, including a total of 264 967 children (n=106 167 left-behind children and adolescents; n=158 800 children and adolescents of non-migrant parents). 91 studies were done in China and focused on effects of internal labour migration. Compared with children of non-migrants, left-behind children had increased risk of depression and higher depression scores (RR 1·52 [95% CI 1·27-1·82]; SMD 0·16 [0·10-0·21]), anxiety (RR 1·85 [1·36-2·53]; SMD 0·18 [0·11-0·26]), suicidal ideation (RR 1·70 [1·28-2·26]), conduct disorder (SMD 0·16 [0·04-0·28]), substance use (RR 1·24 [1·00-1·52]), wasting (RR 1·13 [1·02-1·24]) and stunting (RR 1·12 [1·00-1·26]). No differences were identified between left-behind children and children of non-migrants for other nutrition outcomes, unintentional injury, abuse, or diarrhoea. No studies reported outcomes for other infectious diseases, self-harm, unprotected sex, or early pregnancy. Study quality varied across the included studies, with 43% of studies at high or unclear risk of bias across five or more domains. INTERPRETATION Parental migration is detrimental to the health of left-behind children and adolescents, with no evidence of any benefit. Policy makers and health-care professionals need to take action to improve the health of these young people. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gracia Fellmeth
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kelly Rose-Clarke
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Chenyue Zhao
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura K Busert
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yunting Zheng
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hacer Sonmez
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ben Eder
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alice Blewitt
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Wachiraya Lertgrai
- Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Miriam Orcutt
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katharina Ricci
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Rachel Burns
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Duleeka Knipe
- Department of Population Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sally Hargreaves
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, London, UK; International Health Unit, Section of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Therese Hesketh
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Global Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Charles Opondo
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Delan Devakumar
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Meng X, Yamauchi C. Children of Migrants: The Cumulative Impact of Parental Migration on Children's Education and Health Outcomes in China. Demography 2018; 54:1677-1714. [PMID: 28936632 DOI: 10.1007/s13524-017-0613-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Since the end of 1990s, approximately 160 million Chinese rural workers migrated to cities for work. Because of restrictions on migrant access to local health and education systems, many rural children are left behind in home villages to grow up without parental care. This article examines how exposure to cumulative parental migration affects children's health and education outcomes. Using the Rural-Urban Migration Survey in China (RUMiC) data, we measure the share of children's lifetime during which parents were away from home. We instrument this measure of parental absence with weather changes in their home villages when parents were aged 16-25, when they were most likely to initiate migration. Results show a sizable adverse effect of exposure to parental migration on the health and education outcomes of children: in particular, boys. We also find that the use of the contemporaneous measure for parental migration in previous studies is likely to underestimate the effect of exposure to parental migration on children's outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Meng
- Research School of Economics, CBE, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
|
48
|
Depressive Symptoms of Chinese Children: Prevalence and Correlated Factors among Subgroups. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15020283. [PMID: 29414881 PMCID: PMC5858352 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Revised: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Economic growth and socioeconomic changes have transformed nearly every aspect of childhood in China, and many are worried by the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among children, particularly depression. To provide insight into the distribution of depressive symptoms among children in China and identify vulnerable groups, we use data from the 2012 China Family Panel Survey (CFPS), a survey that collected data from a large, nationally representative sample of the Chinese population. Using the CFPS data, we construct a sample of 2679 children aged 10–15 years old from 25 provinces in China. According to our results, the incidence of depression varies by geographic area. Specifically, we find that rates of depressive symptoms are significantly lower in urban areas (14% of sample children) than in rural areas (23% of sample children). Our results also show that children from ethnic minorities, from poorer families, and whose parents are depressed are more likely to be depressed than other children. In contrast, we find that depressive symptoms do not vary by gender.
Collapse
|
49
|
Living Arrangements and Health-Related Quality of Life in Chinese Adolescents Who Migrate from Rural to Urban Schools: Mediating Effect of Social Support. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14101249. [PMID: 29048382 PMCID: PMC5664750 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14101249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Changes in living arrangements (from living with, or not living with family) may affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate the impact of living arrangement on HRQoL among adolescents migrating from rural to urban schools, and whether social support, in addition to living with a family, had an impact. A cross-sectional survey of 459 school adolescents was carried out in two public schools in Guyuan County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China in 2015. The survey contained the following questionnaires: a self-designed questionnaire, the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Of the 459 adolescents sampled (aged 15.41 ± 1.07 years with range of 13 to 18), 61.7% were living with family, and 38.3% were not living with family. Those students not living with families had lower Mental Component Scale (MCS) scores as well as less social support overall. Those students, who were not living with families, also reported more chronic health problems and more alcohol consumption compared to those students living with families. Social support was a statistically significant mediating factor on the effect of living arrangements on MCS. Our findings demonstrated that those students, who were not living with families, tended to have more health-related quality of life issues, but social support partially mediated the relationship between living arrangements and health.
Collapse
|
50
|
Song Q. Aging and separation from children: The health implications of adult migration for elderly parents in rural China. DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 2017; 37:1761-1792. [PMID: 30581322 PMCID: PMC6301042 DOI: 10.4054/demres.2017.37.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Massive rural-to-urban migration in China has profoundly altered the family life of rural older adults, as adult children remain the primary caretakers of their elderly parents. And yet little is known about the health and well-being of the parents of adult migrants in rural China whose main source of support has been displaced. OBJECTIVE This study takes a comprehensive view and compares the trajectories of self-rated health among the rural elderly and examines how these health trajectories are associated with adult children's migration. METHODS We analyze older adults aged 55 years and over in rural China, using four waves of data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997, 2000, 2004, 2006) and multilevel growth curve models. RESULTS The results show that parents of migrants persistently scored worse self-rated health across ages than their counterparts whose children had not migrated. Long-term migration of adults takes a heavier toll on the health of their elderly parents than short-term migration. However, these associations with children's migration are driven by the migration of sons. The migration of daughters and of children of both genders may have disparate effects on the health trajectories of elderly men and women. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that the interplay of gendered family dynamics and migration processes affects the health outcomes of older adults. CONTRIBUTION The findings contribute to current debates on the health and well-being of family members left behind by migrants and call for further study of the relationship between migration and family processes in the well-being of migrant families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Song
- RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, USA.
| |
Collapse
|