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Informal kin caregivers raising children left behind in rural China: Experiences' feelings' and support
Author(s) -
Hu Yang,
Burton Judith,
Lonne Bob
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/cfs.12712
Subject(s) - grandparent , feeling , kinship , kinship care , viewpoints , raising (metalworking) , context (archaeology) , left behind , china , psychology , social work , social psychology , developmental psychology , sociology , political science , geography , art , anthropology , visual arts , psychotherapist , archaeology , geometry , mathematics , law , mental health
The well‐being of children in informal kinship care and their caregivers is a growing concern globally. This study explored the lived experiences of 23 kin caregivers raising children left behind in rural Northeast China while their migrant parents worked and lived in cities. The findings show that the expected authority and responsibility caregivers carry sometimes conflict with their social role of being children's grandparents. Caregivers' feelings about and understandings of these roles are shaped through their social interactions in local communities. In view of their situation and caregivers' self‐conscious attitudes towards utilizing local resources' future formal service provision and social support should take caregivers' viewpoints into account. These views are embedded in and shaped by their rural living context and relationships with community members who influence caregivers' perceptions and child rearing practices.