Migrant Parents Research Articles

Peer discrimination and diurnal cortisol output in a rural boarding school in China: Empirical findings and methodological considerations.

Adolescents' experiences of discrimination and their health consequences are understudied in non-Western cultures. Using data from 90 rural Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.70; 49% female), this study examined cumulative and daily experiences of peer discrimination (based on socioeconomic status, gender, parental migration status, appearance, grades) and their associations with diurnal cortisol output. Data highlighted a high prevalence of peer discrimination, with 85% of the sample reporting any type of cumulative discrimination in the current semester and 56% of the sample reporting any type of daily discrimination over three consecutive days. At the within-person level, daily peer discrimination (regardless of type) was associated with exaggerated cortisol functioning (i.e., more pronounced rise and fall as indicated by steeper slopes and lower bedtime levels) on the same day; daily discrimination based on parental migration status was also associated with higher cortisol awakening responses on the next day. At the between-person level, cumulative discrimination based on socioeconomic status and gender (but not other factors) was associated with exaggerated cortisol functioning (higher waking levels, steeper slopes). The study also offered a methodological example for collecting daily and cortisol data in rural boarding schools in China. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Migrant parents' perceptions of the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of young children's physical activity and sedentary behavior: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Despite increasing global migration, children from migrant backgrounds are underrepresented in physical activity research. This systematic review aimed to consolidate existing qualitative evidence on parental perceptions of the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of promoting physical activity and limiting sedentary behavior of their first- or second-generation migrant children aged 0-6 years. Six electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Global, and Health EMBASE) were searched for qualitative peer-reviewed English language studies using terms covering migrants, parents, perceptions, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Analysis was guided by the best-fit framework synthesis approach and the socio-ecological model. Database searches yielded 6059 unique records, with 33 studies included in this review. Key parent perceived benefits of physical activity were better health outcomes, development, and long-term outcomes and perceived benefits of sedentary behavior were education, health and development, and a parenting tool to keep children calm and occupied. Eight themes (25 sub-themes) across four levels of the socio-ecological model (primarily interpersonal and community level) were identified as barriers and facilitators of physical activity. Seven themes (14 sub-themes: primarily interpersonal) were identified for sedentary behavior. Parents from migrant backgrounds perceived that their young children experienced some unique barriers to physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Parent–Child Online Interaction and the Well‐Being of Children in Rural China: The Effects of Family Social Capital and Parental Migration

ABSTRACTExisting empirical evidence supports the close relationships between parent–child interactions and child well‐being outcomes. Internet and mobile phone–mediated communication has facilitated interaction between children and their family members, which can be related to increased family social capital for the welfare of children. The objectives of the present study were to examine the associations between parental–child online interactions, family social capital and child well‐being in rural China and to investigate the moderating role of parental migration in these associations. A sample of 1384 secondary school students (47.6% girls, mean age = 14.14 years) participated in the survey and answered questions about their interaction with parents, family structure and relationships and well‐being. A series of regression analyses showed that parent–child online interactions were positively associated with child well‐being by increasing children's family social capital at three parental migration patterns. Furthermore, there is no significant difference in the moderating mediating effect between non–left‐behind children and children whose one parent migrated. The findings provide evidence for the potential beneficial effects of parent–child online interactions on child well‐being and have implications for policies and practices that support the use of the Internet and mobile devices among children living in disadvantaged situations.

Supplemental Material for A Life Course Approach to Examine Cumulative Impacts of Parental Migration on Children’s Psychological Well-Being and Education in Southeast Asia

Supplemental Material for A Life Course Approach to Examine Cumulative Impacts of Parental Migration on Children’s Psychological Well-Being and Education in Southeast Asia

Lived experiences of migrant and refugee parents: Challenges encountered during their journey and settlement in Europe

Lived experiences of migrant and refugee parents: Challenges encountered during their journey and settlement in Europe

Correction to “Voluntary Sector's Roles and Relevance as Alternative Arenas for Promotion of Health and Social Inclusion of Migrant Parents and Families of Children With Special Health and Welfare Needs in Norway”

Correction to “Voluntary Sector's Roles and Relevance as Alternative Arenas for Promotion of Health and Social Inclusion of Migrant Parents and Families of Children With Special Health and Welfare Needs in Norway”

Short-Term Parental Migration and Intergenerational Educational Persistence

Short-Term Parental Migration and Intergenerational Educational Persistence

Unravelling the potential relationship between the climate crisis and the health of migrant children in LAC: perceptions from migrant parents and healthcare professionals in Chile.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is one of the regions most affected by the climate crisis, which is connected to international migration through a complex nexus. During the last years, migratory flows on the continent have increasingly included children and adolescents who are migrating through non-authorised crossing points. The existing literature shows how inequities negatively affect migrant children and the role that healthcare systems can play to mitigate them. Based on a qualitative study, the paper aims to analyse the role of the climate crisis on the healthcare needs of migrant children from LAC who are currently living in Chile, from the point of view of parents from five main countries of immigration in Chile and healthcare professionals. An exploratory study was conducted in Arica, Antofagasta and Santiago. In-depth interviews with 20 migrant parents and 20 healthcare professionals were carried out. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and a thematic analysis was performed. Three findings emerged from this study: (1) food insecurity affects LAC migrant children in their country of origin and during their migratory trajectories to Chile, (2) natural disasters and environmental degradation in the countries of origin are not the only drivers of migration for LAC families but also prevent returns, even when they remain undocumented and (3) LAC migrant children are exposed to urban pollution and contaminants in informal settlements due to difficulties in accessing formal housing, among others. The climate crisis must be integrated into the study of migrant health in LAC, considering the current context of multiple political, health and economic crises in the region. Healthcare professionals and communities play a central role in creating interventions to build sustainable and resilient universal healthcare systems.

Voluntary Sector's Roles and Relevance as Alternative Arenas for Promotion of Health and Social Inclusion of Migrant Parents and Families of Children With Special Health and Welfare Needs in Norway

ABSTRACTMigrant families of children with special health and welfare needs such as mental, developmental, and physical disabilities face significant barriers to health and welfare services. This could result in social inequalities and exclusion. The aim of this article was to explore the role and relevance of voluntary sector in promoting health and social inclusion of migrant families of children with special health and welfare needs in Norway. The study is based on a qualitative participatory research design using co‐production and interdisciplinary research methodologies. A total of 15 voluntary sector employees participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews. We found three major themes to summarise the role of voluntary sector: 1) Providing arenas for social inclusion and belonging; 2) Facilitating access to public health and welfare services; and 3) Provision of complementary health and welfare services. Results indicate that voluntary services use more informal community centered caring approaches and are supplementary to public health and welfare services. An exploration of more opportunities for participation of migrant families of children with special health and welfare needs in the development of services and collaboration between voluntary services and public welfare providers may foster inclusion and could be of relevance to future welfare research and practice. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's .

Does parental migration affect children’s health in rural India? A fresh look at retrospective data using LASSO Regression Method

Does parental migration affect children’s health in rural India? A fresh look at retrospective data using LASSO Regression Method

"Good childhood": children's perception and evaluation of transnational families.

In public debates, transnational families are portrayed as a deviation from the norm of "good childhood." In Europe, this is emphasized by the term "Euro-orphans," branding parents' (especially mothers') absence as a violation and scandalizing it. Children's voices are rarely heard in public discourse, and although research is now turning its attention to the "stayer children," they and their perspectives on transnational family life remain underrepresented, especially in Europe. In a German-Polish project, we investigate how children perceive and evaluate transnational family life based on 27 group discussions with 12-14-year-olds (with and without own transnational family experience) in Poland. The analysis shows that (1) the presence of parents is central to the normative pattern of a good childhood from children's perspective, but (2) they use differentiated criteria when assessing (temporary) parental migration, i.e., they do not refer to "universal" needs of children. Additionally, (3) children request that they be informed about the migration-decision early on and involved in the organization of the time of separation to make it as acceptable as possible for them. Thereby, they offer interpretations of transnational families that contribute to erode the norm of good childhood. We see our paper as a sociologically and socio-politically relevant contribution to expanding the discussion on transnational families, both from the perspective of children who discuss and problematize transnational family life as more than merely a question of violating the norm of parents' presence, and with our focus on the European region, which provides specific contextual conditions for transnational families.

Effects of parental migration on children’s schooling: a cross-sectional study of internal labour migrants in Delhi, India

ABSTRACT This paper reports how children’s educational prospects are affected when parent(s) migrate for livelihood. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India. Six thousand one hundred sixty-eight migrant households from 189 slums and slum-like areas across Delhi were selected following cluster-random sampling. Socio-demographic details of all household members were collected from an adult family member. Analysis of descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were carried out. There were 5,698 children aged 6–14 years in these households. 23.8% of children of migrants (6–14 years) lost the opportunity to attend school. Migration status, ethnicity, residence, per capita income, and parental education were associated with children’s schooling. The study concludes that the children of poor migrants have low levels of schooling at the destination compared to the children of migrants living in their native place.

A Multifaceted Intervention Designed for Chinese Migrant Families Involving Educational Philosophy, Parenting Style, and Parent-Child Relationships: A Pilot Study

This pilot study aimed to preliminarily evaluate a comprehensive intervention program addressing the unique challenges of Chinese migrant family parenting and mental health, focusing on educational philosophy, parenting styles, and parent-child relationships. Utilizing emotional communication techniques and behavioral parent training, the program spanned 21 d of family activities and online coaching for six families. Findings indicate significant improvements in negative parenting styles and parent-child relationships, enhancement of migrant children’s mental health, and overall family function enhancement. Innovatively, this online-based program provides convenient participation opportunities for migrant families, accommodating their busy schedules while addressing their unique parenting challenges.

Creating translanguaging affirmative space through artifactual literacies: towards addressing power imbalance with multilingual parents

Researching migrant and multilingual parents’ literacy practices with their children is ethically complex due to the dominant discourses of language and literacy which devalue such practices as irrelevant or deficient. Translanguaging theory and the related concept of translanguaging space offer opportunities to consider dialogue with multilingual parents differently, valuing their literacy practices in the interview space. Drawing on data from an artifactual literacies study with multilingual parents, the paper discusses three aspects which contributed to reframing the interview as translanguaging affirmative space: the value of artefacts brought by the parents in relating their lived experiences; the role of semantic maps as shared multilingual writing; and the use of multilingual transcribing. It is argued that through these practices, a translanguaging affirmative space was co-produced which contributed to reducing the power imbalance inherent in research. It is further argued that such translanguaging space can be co-produced by researcher and participant, even when they do not share a home language.

Does parental migration matter in access to academic high schools for left-behind children in China?

Enrolling in academic high schools always predicts one can have higher educational achievements, such as access to university later. Using data from China Family Panel Studies, this paper examines whether and how parental migration affects the high school attainment of left-behind children. Results indicate that exposure to parental migration in childhood lowers the probability of attending vocational high school but increases the likelihood of enrolling in academic high school. The effect is more substantial for the left behind children who are from rural areas, with siblings, or second-born or later. The findings also suggest a potential psychological mechanism that inhibits the educational achievement of left-behind children. Specifically, left-behind children exhibit lower expectations for educational attainment and hold beliefs that individual success is attributed to external factors, which may discourage them from pursuing higher education achievements. Further, migrant parents also show lower expectations for their children's educational attainment. Our findings highlight the crucial role of psychological manifestations induced by parental migration in determining high school attendance and offer insights for developing policies aimed at promoting educational equity.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventions Targeted to Parents for Improving the Oral Health of Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds.

A high prevalence of dental caries is a significant health problem, especially in the pediatric population. Low-income minority groups, including the refugee and immigrant populations, are at higher risk of compromised oral health. It has been suggested that migrant parents do not have enough understanding of oral health, risk factors associated with dental caries, or the progress of dental decay. This systematic review aims to study quantitative literature on oral health interventions, health promotion programs, or behaviour change interventions targeting the parents/ caregivers of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children. A systematic search of electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, CINAHL, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, COCHRANE, and PROQUEST, was conducted until August 2023. Randomised (RCT) or non-randomised controlled trials (NRCTs) were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. Meta-analysis was performed as appropriate. The initial search from the databases retrieved 2073 articles. After the removal of duplicates, 1683 articles remained. Finally, 69 articles were reviewed in full text, and 15 articles were considered eligible in this review. The RoB assessment for RCTs rated three as low-risk and three as high-risk. The serious RoB in these NRCTs mostly pertained to measurement bias based on self-reporting oral health behaviours. The meta-analysis pooling of results (for RCTs and NRCTs) favoured interventions for CALD parents' oral health knowledge [0.73 (95% CI, 0.08 to 1.38) for RCTs, 1.73 (95% CI; 1.45 to 2.02) for NRCTs] and attitudes [0.86 (95% CI, 0.31 to 1.42)]. Relatively high heterogeneity was observed. Oral health educational interventions can be effective in improving the oral health literacy of CALD parents' oral health knowledge and attitudes, especially when facilitated by lay health advisors. However, the low quality of evidence due to high heterogeneity and high RoB further highlighted the need for well-designed RCTs targeting CALD parents.

The silver lining of parental migration on left‐behind adolescents' academic well‐being in China: A systematic review

AbstractThe well‐being, particularly academic performance, of left‐behind children (LBC) by their migrant parents has been studied. Although extensive literature pronounces the adverse impact of parental migration on LBC's academic outcomes, a growing body of evidence has found that these children might perform equally or even better academically than non‐left‐behind children (NLBC), which inspires the present review. This innovative study has systematically reviewed previous studies to provide evidence of a silver lining for parental migration and its implications. We searched for relevant studies from reliable sources and screened them between January and April 2023, following the PRISMA guidelines. After two authors independently screened the title, abstract and full text, 11 potential studies that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were reviewed. The results indicate that eight eligible studies found no significant difference in academic performance between LBC and NLBC, while the remaining studies showed that LBC outperformed NLBC. Additionally, the age of left‐behind children, the duration and reasons for parental migration and household remittance practices were key factors in determining the resilience of LBCs towards academic engagement and performance. The present review findings suggest that future studies need to examine the positive consequence of parental migration on LBCs' academic and nonacademic outcomes by performing rigorous and robust methodology that unfolds and provides casual relationships, which insist on feasible practical and policy effective implications.

Labour migration and mental health of left-behind children in Georgia: a mixed methods study

Abstract Background Global migration is on the rise, and as a result, millions of children are left in their home countries while their parents migrate abroad. Little is known about the mental health of left-behind children (LBC) in Eastern Europe. The study addresses this research gap in Georgia, a leading migrant-sending country in the region. Methods Applying convergent parallel design, this mixed methods research integrates a qualitative study with schoolteachers from six public schools in Samegrelo and Guria regions (6 focus group discussions and 6 in-depth interviews) (i); a school survey with 933 adolescents (ii) from 18 public schools, (12-18 age group, internalizing and externalizing problems assessed with Aschenbach’s “Youth Self-Report” questionnaire), and a qualitative study using life-narrative interviews with 39 adolescents (iii). We analysed qualitative data using reflexive thematic analyses and applied multiple linear regression to analyse quantitative data. Results The Quantitative and qualitative findings converge in some respects while diverging in others. Schoolteachers perceive migratory separation as a traumatizing life event, making children vulnerable to mental health issues. Similarly, schoolchildren perceive separation from parents as a stressful life event; however, they also acknowledge positive aspects of migrant labour, such as material benefits. From the perception of LBC, close family ties, friendships, school support, and optimism help with coping. This study also revealed a gender disparity, with boys exhibiting more rule-breaking behaviour and girls performing worse on most Youth Self- Reported syndrome scales. Regression analysis showed associations between adolescents’ problem behaviours and relationships with family members, friendships, and school environment. Conclusions This research found that parental migration effects on children are complex and depend on individual and transnational family characteristics. Key messages • Left-behind children may need emotional and academic support. • Strengthening family ties, supportive school environment and friendships contribute to adolescents’ coping with parental migration.

Heterogeneity in health and lifestyle among preschool children with migrant background in Sweden

Abstract Background Parental country of birth and socioeconomic status affect children’s health, lifestyle, and access to care. But inequality patterns may vary depending on the outcome and indicator being studied. While prior studies have focused on single health outcomes, this study assessed the relationship between parental migrant status and a range of health and lifestyle indicators among 3-year-old children. Methods Using an outcome-wide approach, we analyzed data from cross-sectional population-based surveys of 3-year-old (2014-2018) in Northern Sweden, which included 9,099 children aged 33-42 months. The surveys were administered to parents. Logistic and linear regressions were performed to examine the association between parents’ place of birth and outcome indicators. Additionally, we controlled for parents’ income and education using multiple regression models. Results Children with at least one migrant parent were perceived by their parents to have poorer health (OR:1.5, CI:1.01-2.36) and more socio-emotional problems (OR: 2.8, CI: 2.20-3.59) compared to those with two Swedish parents. While there were no significant differences in estimated BMI, lifestyle indicators showed that these children consumed more sweets (OR:4.5, CI: 3.02-6.58), less milk (OR: 1.3, CI: 1.09-1.55), fewer vegetables (OR:1.6; CI: 1.22-2.05) and brushed their teeth less frequently (OR: 2.8, CI: 2.17-3.53). However, they spent more time playing outdoors on weekdays (OR:1.6, CI:1.22-2.00) and weekends (OR: 1.5, CI: 1.18-1.94), but screen time remained consistent between weekdays and weekends. Conclusions Parental migrant status has varying impacts on children’s health and lifestyle, with some indicators showing worse outcomes for children with migrant parents compared to those with Swedish parents, while others do not. An outcome-wide approach is crucial for targeted actions to strengthen protective factors and mitigate risk factors, and ultimately reduce inequalities in early childhood. Key messages • The link between parental migrant status and children’s well-being is complex. Not all indicators show worse outcomes, inequality patterns vary based on the specific outcome and indicator measured. • An outcome-wide approach is crucial to identify action areas for targeted interventions to reinforce protective factors and mitigate risk factors, and ultimately reduce inequalities during childhood.

“We must make sacrifices” - coping among left-behind adolescents in Georgia after parental migration

Abstract Background Adolescence is challenging, particularly for those left-behind in their countries of origin while parents out-migrate for work. The Eastern European country Georgia has one of the highest percentages of left-behind children and adolescents worldwide, yet how they cope with migratory separation remains unknown. This study is the first to explore strategies of Georgian left-behind adolescents to cope with parental absence. Methods From December 2021 to January 2022, we conducted 29 narrative interviews with left-behind adolescents aged 12-18 in Georgia. We purposively sampled participants from a relatively large public school in the Samegrelo region, the second-largest region of Georgia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using NVivo 12. Resilience theory underpins this study, and reflexive thematic analysis is applied to identify main themes and sub-themes. Results Under the overarching theme of coping and resilience, we identified the following four main themes: (1) the time dimension (2) family connectedness (3) positive attitudes and self-care (4) social interactions beyond the family. Our findings revealed that adolescents whose parent(s) migrated when they were toddlers coped well, while children aged 6-10 felt heavily affected and vulnerable. Closeness with the migrant parent, siblings, caregivers, and other family members was crucial for children’s coping. Self-care, self-encouragement, and positive attitudes helped them overcome negative emotions related to parental absence. Awareness of parents’ motivation to migrate and appreciation of material benefits positively contributed to adolescents’ coping and resilience. In addition, those with many friends coped better and were more resilient than socially less active peers. Conclusions Self-motivation, positive attitude, supportive family, and social interactions help left-behind adolescents to cope with negative emotions related to parental absence. Key messages • left-behind children especially at the age of 6-10 need support to cope with migratory separation. • Interventions are needed to strengthen family ties and support children in intensifying social interactions beyond family.