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“Left-behind children” and their pathways into criminality: A mixed-method study of delinquent adolescents in China

Author

Listed:
  • Lin, Kai
  • Qu, Jia

Abstract

Over the past several decades, China's internal migration has led to a large number of “left-behind children” (LBC) growing up with substantial parental neglect in rural areas. LBC have been found to suffer from multiple social vulnerabilities, including a heightened risk of offending behavior. Utilizing both quantitative survey and qualitative interview data from 383 delinquent adolescents in two correctional settings in an underdeveloped region of China, this study explores key factors affecting the onset, severity, and persistence of delinquent behaviors, with a particular focus on the impact of parental migration. This research contributes to developmental and life course criminology by revealing the unique challenges (such as insufficient parental bonding and authoritarian parenting by grandparents) faced by LBC, a group at the forefront of some of the adverse consequences of China's rapid economic growth with significant inequalities. It also sheds light on the complex interactions between economic migration, familial disruption, and juvenile delinquency in a non-Western context of the Global South.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Kai & Qu, Jia, 2025. "“Left-behind children” and their pathways into criminality: A mixed-method study of delinquent adolescents in China," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:98:y:2025:i:c:s0047235225000819
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102432
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