Mental health in the left‐behind children in the Fujian Province of China

Abstract

Purpose An increasing number of people are migrating within the borders of China. Some migrants have to leave their children behind, and 58,000,000 children are estimated to be living as left‐behind children. Earlier studies have found severe mental problems in left‐behind children, but different factors could influence their mental health. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mental health of these left‐behind children and to determine possible influencing factors. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were collected in one province of the People's Republic of China with a validated instrument, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), to investigate behavior in 13‐to‐15‐year old children. Findings No significant difference was found in total difficulty score and in any subscale score of SDQ when left‐behind children were compared with children who were not left behind. A significant difference in emotional difficulty subscale score was found between girls who were left behind and girls who were not. Some socio‐economic factors such as poor family economy and living with relatives, friends or grandparents, were identified as risk factors. Originality/value When strategies for support of the mental health in left‐behind children are developed, they will need to be individualized according to the gender, social and economic situation and focused on emotional and conduct problems.