scholarly journals Educational Selectivity of Migrants and Current School Enrollment of Children Left behind: Analyses in Three African Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 736-769
Author(s):  
Sophia Chae ◽  
Jennifer E. Glick
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
School Enrollment ◽  
Comparable Data ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Children Left Behind ◽  
Migrant Selectivity ◽  
Sending Areas

Migration of household members is often undertaken to improve the well-being of individuals remaining in the household. Despite this, research has demonstrated inconsistent associations between migration and children’s well-being across sending areas and types of migration. To understand the degree to which different types of migration and migrants are associated with schooling, we analyze comparable data across three African countries differing in prevalence, type, and selectivity of migration. Results suggest that recent migration is differentially associated with left-behind children’s school enrollment across settings. When analyses are restricted to migrant-sending households, however, migrant selectivity is positively associated with school enrollment.

scholarly journals Parent emigration and physical health of children left behind: systematic review of the literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Racaite ◽  
G Surkiene ◽  
M Jakubauskiene ◽  
R Sketerskiene ◽  
L Wulkau
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Children Left Behind

Abstract Background Children left behind (CLB) are those, who have been left behind at their original residence while one or both parents migrate to other places for work. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies where the physical health consequences for CLB were analysed. Methods We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases. We included studies reporting physical health outcomes of children affected by parent migration. Results We selected 35 studies from a total of 2191. The results reveal that, overall, the absence of one or both parents is related to poorer child health - the nutrition of CLB is not healthy or balanced and is insufficient, leading to higher rates of anaemia and poor growth indicators of affected children. Boys left by parents are smaller than boys who were never left behind. CLB face lower underweight or stunted growth risks due to the additional income from remittances which ensures sufficient food for the household, this can also lead, however, to overweight and obesity. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol, food preferences, lower physical activity and higher risk of injuries were more prevalent among CLB. CLB were more likely not to have completed the recommended vaccination programme than those living with their parents. Opinions vary on how emigration of parents affects children’s well-being and quality of life. CLB had higher probabilities of higher well-being than children living in non-migrant households. However, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of CLB scored significantly lower than HRQoL of non-left-behind children. Conclusions The migration of parents has negative impacts on the child’s physical health, however it can also have positive impacts on children’s well-being when basic needs for sufficient nutrition are not satisfied in the home countries. Public health interventions should be taken to ensure the health of the CLB population. Key messages This is the first systematic review on the physical health of CLB. The well-being of CLB is poorer and they are at risk of health problems, such as insufficient and/or unbalanced diet, unhealthy behaviours and incomplete vaccination status.

scholarly journals Community-Based Intervention to Improve the Well-Being of Children Left Behind by Migrant Parents in Rural China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (19) ◽  
pp. 7218
Author(s):  
Minmin Jiang ◽  
Lu Li ◽  
Wei Xing Zhu ◽  
Therese Hesketh
Keyword(s):  
School Performance ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Local Leadership ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Children Left Behind

In rural China around 60 million left-behind children (LBC) experience prolonged separation from migrant worker parents. They are vulnerable to a range of psychosocial problems. The aim of this study was to determine whether a community-based intervention consisting of Children’s Centres can improve psychosocial well-being and school performance of these children. The intervention was carried out in 20 villages, for children aged 7 to 15 years, irrespective of left-behind status. Nine hundred and twenty children, 438 LBC and 256 children living with parents (RC) attended the Centres. At follow-up after one year, there were improvements compared to baseline in total difficulties (measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) in children left behind by both parents (p = 0.009), children left behind by one parent (p = 0.008) and RC (p = 0.05). Postintervention school performance significantly improved in both categories of LBC (p < 0.001), but not RC (p = 0.07); social support score increased in both categories of LBC (p < 0.001) and RC (p = 0.01). Findings from interviews with key stakeholders were overwhelmingly positive about the impacts. With strong local leadership and community motivation, a low-cost intervention can improve children’s psychosocial well-being in these settings. Allowing communities to adapt the model to their own situation fosters local ownership, commitment, with benefits for children, parents, carers, and communities.

Psychological Well-Being, Family Relations, and Developmental Issues of Children Left Behind

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 905-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni G. Valtolina ◽  
Chiara Colombo
Keyword(s):  
Family Relations ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Developmental Issues ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The People ◽  
Physical Intimacy ◽  
Children Left Behind

The phrase “children left behind” refers to minors who are left in their home country while one or both of their parents emigrate for work for at least six months. From a quantitative point of view, children left behind in countries with strong migratory pressure are many. Separation of families in migration is tied to implications about well-being of the people involved—mainly the children—and of the communities to which they belong. The emotional neglect felt by these children is associated with lack of affection and physical intimacy. Through a review of the literature, the purpose of this paper was to show that distress in this pattern of deprivation is manifested by the children in several ways and in different contexts: low school performance, drop-out from school, conflicts with teachers and peers, anxiety, low self-esteem, tendency to feel depressed, apathy, suicidal behaviour, and substance abuse.

Victimization of Children Left Behind in Rural China

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 515-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojin Chen ◽  
Ningxin Liang ◽  
Stephen F. Ostertag
Keyword(s):  
Problem Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
School Students ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Children Left Behind

Objectives: Examine the relationship between parental rural-to-urban migration, caretaking arrangement, and left-behind children’s self-reported victimization in rural China. The direct effect of parental migration on children’s victimization as well as the indirect effect through positive caretaking and children’s delinquent/problem behavior involvement is explored. Methods: The study uses data from the Parental Migration and Children’s Well-being Survey, which collected information on parental migration and children’s experience of victimization from a probability sample of 800 middle school students in southern China. Structural equation modeling is used to evaluate hypothesized models by simultaneously assessing direct and indirect effects. Results: Compared with children living with both parents in rural China, children left behind by their fathers have an elevated level of victimization. In addition, the chronic absence of fathers leads to a higher level of delinquent and problem behavior among left-behind children, which in turn leads to further victimization. Conclusion: Left-behind children living with mothers, grandparents, or other relatives are an “at-risk” population for victimization. Local programs such as parenting lessons for left-behind parents and grandparents are needed. In addition, the importance of father’s chronic absence on left-behind children’s healthy physical and mental development needs to be further examined.

scholarly journals Associations between materialism, gratitude, and well-being in children of overseas Filipino workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan B. I. Bernardo ◽  
Roseann Tan-Mansukhani ◽  
Mary Angeline A. Daganzo
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Financial Status ◽  
Parental Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Overseas Filipino Workers ◽  
Children Left Behind

Children left behind by parents who are overseas Filipino workers (OFW) benefit from parental migration because their financial status improves. However, OFW families might emphasize the economic benefits to compensate for their separation, which might lead to materialism among children left behind. Previous research indicates that materialism is associated with lower well-being. The theory is that materialism focuses attention on comparing one’s possessions to others, making one constantly dissatisfied and wanting more. Research also suggests that gratitude mediates this link, with the focus on acquiring more possessions that make one less grateful for current possessions. This study explores the links between materialism, gratitude, and well-being among 129 adolescent children of OFWs. The participants completed measures of materialism, gratitude, and well-being (life satisfaction, self-esteem, positive and negative affect). Results showed that gratitude mediated the negative relationship between materialism and well-being (and its positive relationship with negative affect). Children of OFWs who have strong materialist orientation seek well-being from possessions they do not have and might find it difficult to be grateful of their situation, contributing to lower well-being. The findings provide further evidence for the mediated relationship between materialism and well-being in a population that has not been previously studied in the related literature. The findings also point to two possible targets for psychosocial interventions for families and children of OFWs.

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