The impact of parental migration on depression of children: new evidence from rural China

Zhongshan Yue^a,Zai Liang^a,b, Qian Wang^a, Xinyin Chen^c

CHINESE SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, 2020, 52(4), 364-388

【摘要】Using data from a 2017 survey in western China, weexamine whether remittances received from migrantfamily members and household work burden playmoderating roles in children’s depression. We alsoexplore the extent to which interpersonal factors (parent-child communication and parenting practices)and child’s intrapersonal personality trait (assessed by self-esteem) mediate the impact of parental migrationon children’s depression. Results show that receipt ofremittances significantly helps mitigate their depression. Regardless of children’s left-behind-status,household work burden significantly increases theirlevels of depression. Levels of depression among children left-behind by both parents are mediated byparent-child communication, parental responsiveness,and children’s self-esteem. Findings reveal significant social costs due to parental migration in terms ofchild development. The policy implications of ourfindings are discussed.