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The Influence of Parental Migration on Left-behind Children’s Mental Health in China: the Mediating Roles of Daily Stress and Sense-Making

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  • Yao Fu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Jia Chen

    (Shanghai University)

Abstract

Despite growing attention to health impacts of parental migration on children left behind, little is known about the mechanism through which parental migration may affect children’s mental health. This study examined how various parental migration experiences — namely, migration history, paternal migration, maternal migration, or both parents’ migration — are associated with children’s mental health. Moreover, we adopted a stress-and-coping model to examine the mediating roles of daily stress and sense-making in the association between parental migration and children’s mental health. Using a multi-stage probability strategy, the sample included 1907 students with a mean age of 13.66 in Western China. Results showed that children with both parents having migrated had increased risk of being depressive, and children with a migrant father were less likely to have flourishing mental health compared with children whose parents had no migration history. Left-behind children’s vulnerability towards poor mental health could be explained by increased levels of daily stress. Sense-making could mediate the negative impacts of daily stress on mental health outcomes. Social services are required to promote left-behind children’s mental health, with a focus on reducing daily stress and enhancing children’s coping capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Yao Fu & Jia Chen, 2022. "The Influence of Parental Migration on Left-behind Children’s Mental Health in China: the Mediating Roles of Daily Stress and Sense-Making," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 2455-2477, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:17:y:2022:i:5:d:10.1007_s11482-021-09983-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-021-09983-x
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    1. Fu, Yao & Jordan, Lucy P. & Zhou, Xiaochen & Chow, Cheng & Fang, Lue, 2023. "Longitudinal associations between parental migration and children's psychological well-being in Southeast Asia: The roles of caregivers' mental health and caregiving quality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).

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