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Parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors: The mediating role of deviant peer affiliation and the moderating role of beliefs about adversity

Author

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  • Yang, Banglin
  • Xiong, Cancan
  • Huang, Jin

Abstract

Left-behind children face many threats to their survival, which leads to their externalizing problem behaviors. Previous studies showed that parental emotional neglect has a profound influence on left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors, but the mediating and moderating mechanisms that underlie this influence are unclear. The current study investigated the effects of parental emotional neglect on left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors, the mediating role of deviant peer affiliation, and the moderating role of beliefs about adversity in the association between parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors. A sample of 1063 children (Mage = 14.71, SD = 1.64) from a rural area of Taiqian County anonymously completed the Emotional Neglect Scale, the Deviant Peer Affiliation Scale, the Beliefs about Adversity Scale, the Externalizing Problem Behaviors Scale and a demographic information questionnaire. After controlled for demographic variables, parental emotional neglect significantly and positively predicted left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors. The mediation analysis showed that the positive association between parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors was mediated by deviant peer affiliation. Moreover, the moderation analysis indicated that beliefs about adversity moderated the association between parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors, which supports the stress-buffering model. The current study provides an understanding of how parental emotional neglect influences left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors. This research also provides a timely and necessary study of the prevention and intervention of these behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Banglin & Xiong, Cancan & Huang, Jin, 2021. "Parental emotional neglect and left-behind children’s externalizing problem behaviors: The mediating role of deviant peer affiliation and the moderating role of beliefs about adversity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:120:y:2021:i:c:s0190740920321332
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105710
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fan, Xiaoyan & Lu, Mengjia, 2020. "Testing the effect of perceived social support on left-behind children’s mental well-being in mainland China: The mediation role of resilience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Hu, Hongwei & Lu, Shuang & Huang, Chien-Chung, 2014. "The psychological and behavioral outcomes of migrant and left-behind children in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 1-10.
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    4. Daniel Shek, 2005. "A Longitudinal Study of Chinese Cultural Beliefs About Adversity, Psychological Well-Being, Delinquency And Substance Abuse in Chinese Adolescents With Economic Disadvantage," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 71(1), pages 385-409, March.
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    1. Yang, Jiahua & Brandon, Rachel & Zhang, Anao & Yang, Yujie & Zhang, Hui, 2025. "Childhood emotional neglect and psychological distress among Chinese college students: The mediating roles of basic psychological needs and coping styles," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Yuwen Lyu & Julian Chun-Chung Chow & Ji-Jen Hwang & Zhi Li & Cheng Ren & Jungui Xie, 2022. "Psychological Well-Being of Left-Behind Children in China: Text Mining of the Social Media Website Zhihu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Luo, Xiao & Hu, Wei & Wang, Qiong & Tu, Ruilin & Han, Xiaoyan & Yuan, Yuan & Zhang, Mingjie, 2024. "Childhood maltreatment and depression among emerging adults: Longitudinal mediation effects of making positive sense of adversity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    4. Zhang, Xinwen & Ngai, Steven Sek-yum & Wang, Zhiyou, 2025. "The social-emotional consequences of child neglect: Exploring the interpersonal and psychological pathways," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    5. Yongfeng Ma & Chunhua Ma & Xiaoyu Lan, 2022. "Openness to Experience Moderates the Association of Warmth Profiles and Subjective Well-Being in Left-Behind and Non-Left-Behind Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, March.
    6. Wei, Binhui & Wang, Runtao & Lin, Xiakaifeng & Zhao, Chunkai & Luo, Mingzhong, 2024. "The long-term effect of childhood left-behind experiences on entrepreneurial activities in adulthood: Empirical evidence from China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    7. Li, Fu-Wei & Jhang, Fang-Hua, 2023. "Controllable negative life events, family cohesion, and externalizing problems among rural and migrant children in China: A moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    8. Zhang, Xinwen & Sek-yum Ngai, Steven, 2024. "Behavioral development in the Shadow of child Neglect: The roles of resilience and peer rejection," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).

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