Research on the Left-behind Children Mental Health in Rural China

Abstract

This research discusses previous research focused on left-behind childrens mental health in rural China, including the potential causes, consequences, and intervention. China rapidly developed in the 1980s, which resulted in a trend where people from rural areas migrate to urban areas for employment. This phenomenon made millions of children in rural areas have to separate from their parents, which is called "left-behind children." With observation in recent years of left-behind children, it turns out that left-behind children experienced poor academic performance, issues with mental health, and low life satisfaction in adulthood. However, there is limited research demonstrating left-behind children mental health causes and results in a macro-perspective. This research is aimed to illustrate this question in a comprehensive view. While this research article mainly focuses on left-behind children mental health problems caused by various reasons, we compared and analyzed previous studies which are relevant to this topic. Left-behind children's dilemmas are not caused by a single reason but more complicated. Left-behind children due to inadequate parental care could experience school bullying, poor living conditions, and so on. Those multiple factors contribute to the left-behind children experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. In order to improve this condition, it is necessary for society and parents to cooperate to eliminate negative effects on left-behind children.