Psychological Capital Differs Among Rural Left-Behind Children and Is Associated With Emotional and Behavioral Problems.

Cuiying Zhu,Zhihua Li,Xiaolan Yin,Lujun Zhou

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.565385

Abstract

This study aims to explore, through latent profile analysis (LPA), rural left-behind children’s psychological capital and its relationship with emotional and behavioral indicators. In this study, 677 rural-based left-behind children (average age 11.7 ± 1.58 years) in Hunan Province, China, were recruited and assessed using the Rural Left-behind Children’s Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the Children’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. We found that psychological capital was divided into three latent profiles: high (43.3% of the sample), medium (46.1%), and low (10.6%). Compared to the other two types, the children with low psychological capital returned higher scores for emotional symptoms, conduct disorder, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and peer-interaction problems, but lower prosocial behavior scores. Meanwhile, examination of the effects of gender and grade found that most of the elementary school students had high psychological capital, and that there was no significant difference among the groups in regard to gender. In summary, distinct differences in psychological capital were found among left-behind children, and the latent profiles were determined to be related to grade, emotional symptoms, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and prosocial behavior. There was also a significant difference in emotional and behavioral indicators across the different latent profiles.

Highlights

China’s rapid development has resulted in many rural unskilled laborers moving to cities to seek employment, causing growth in the country’s migrant population (Wang et al, 2015)
This paper explores the different subtypes of left-behind children’s psychological capital through latent profile analysis (LPA), compares the emotions and behaviors of left-behind children with differing psychological capital, and discusses the influence of sociodemographic factors on the classification of psychological capital. This may be the first study to explore the latent classes of psychological capital among left-behind children
Based on the results of the above analysis of the latent classes of psychological capital, we further explored the effects of gender and grade

Summary

Introduction

China’s rapid development has resulted in many rural unskilled laborers moving to cities to seek employment, causing growth in the country’s migrant population (Wang et al, 2015). China’s urban-rural dual system and the existence of unequal access to social resources such as education and health care have caused most of the migrant workers to travel without their children; these children, who remain in their home regions, are often referred to as “left-behind children.”. One study found that the mental health of left-behind children is affected by negative environmental, personality, and social factors (Graham et al, 2012). Some of these children have serious mental

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Methods

Conclusion