A survey in rural China of parent-absence through migrant working: the impact on their children's self-concept and loneliness

作者：Lijuan Liu, Xun Sun, Chunli Zhang, Yue Wang, Qiang Guo · 发表于：BMC Public Health · 年份：2010 · DOI：10.1186/1471-2458-10-32 · 被引用次数：58 · 研究领域：Racial and Ethnic Identity Research、Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving、China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance

BACKGROUND: Following the rapid increase of migrant workers in China, the number of "absent migrant parents" children is also rising fast. The "absent migrant parents" children might have an insecure relationship with their parents, have a different view of them, and be prone to have the feeling of loneliness. The purpose of the study was to compare the self-concept and loneliness between the "absent migrant parents" children and comparison children, to examine the relationship between self-concept and loneliness among the two groups, and to study the predictors of self-concept among the two groups. METHODS: Participants were 230 "absent migrant parents" children and 250 comparison children in the rural area of a county, China. The self-concept and loneliness of children were assessed using Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale and Childhood Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: The "absent migrant parents" children were more likely to dislike their parents or be uncertain whether they like their parents, and they reported less time spent in physical and leisure time activities, higher loneliness and lower self-concept in comparison with the comparison children. Loneliness was significantly negatively correlated with all the dimensions of self-concept among the two groups. Regression analysis showed that self-concept was positively related to the relationship with parents and guardians and time spent in physical and leisure activities among the "absent migrant parents" children. The same fact...