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Left‐behind children in rural C hina experience higher levels of anxiety and poorer living conditions
Author(s) -
Zhao Xue,
Chen Jian,
Chen MingChun,
Lv XiaoLing,
Jiang YuHong,
Sun YeHuan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12602
Subject(s) - neglect , anxiety , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , physical abuse , child abuse , demography , psychiatry , poison control , injury prevention , environmental health , nursing , sociology
Abstract Aim The number of rural C hinese parents who leave their children with family members to work in the cities has increased dramatically over the last decade. This study compared the social anxiety of left‐behind children ( LBC ) and children not left behind (non‐ LBC ). Methods We investigated 1694 LBC and 1223 non‐ LBC , aged seven to 17 years, in a C hinese province using a structured questionnaire that included questions about socio‐demographic characteristics, social anxiety, family function, quality of life, neglect and physical abuse. Results LBC displayed higher social anxiety scores, more neglect, lower parental educational level, lower quality of life, lower family function and lower prevalence of physical abuse than non‐ LBC . Multiple linear regression models showed that higher S ocial A nxiety S cales for C hildren ( SASC ) scores in LBC were clearly associated with lower quality of life, poorer family function, physical abuse, being female, having more siblings and minorities. In non‐ LBC , they were associated with lower quality of life, poorer family function, neglect, being female and physical abuse. Conclusion LBC have a relatively higher level of social anxiety and poorer living conditions than non‐ LBC , and there are differences in social anxiety, and its relevant factors, between the two groups.