Citation

Chen M, Sun X, Chen Q, Chan KL. Trauma Violence Abuse 2017; ePub(ePub): 1524838017744768.

Affiliation

Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1524838017744768

PMID

29333970

Abstract

Studies concerning left-behind children in rural China have shown that parental absence due to migration is associated with greater risk of child victimization and accidental injuries, and a range of psychosocial problems. The authors conducted this meta-analysis to determine the extent to which left-behind children are affected by parental migration, as compared to children in nonmigrant rural families. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and 90 studies published before 2017 were included in the data synthesis and analysis. The results revealed that compared to non-left-behind children, rural left-behind children are generally more disadvantaged in regard to child safety ( d = 0.27) and psychological adjustment ( d = 0.25). The effect sizes, though interpreted as small, revealed that children in rural China are significantly affected by parental migration. Children's educational stage was a significant variable that moderated the effect sizes of child safety and psychological adjustment. The findings of the meta-analysis indicated that mother-only migration may have the most harmful effect on children. In terms of implications for interventions, the results suggest more attention should be given to rural left-behind children and to "mother-absent children" in particular. Future research is warranted to explore the association between left-behind children's psychological adjustment and their exposure to injury and victimization.

Language: en

Keywords

left-behind children; meta-analysis; migration; psychological adjustment; safety