The Left-Behind of the Left-Behind

Resilience of Chinese Rural Left-behind Children from Different Family Structures

Dados Bibliográficos

ID19216596
AutoresZhuang Jia (0000-0001-8033-4147, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, autor correspondente), Wu Qiaobing (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Ano2026
Data de publicação2026-06-10
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoYouth & Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0044-118X • E-ISSN: 1552-8499
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0044118x261457942
OpenAlexW7164154906
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas76

Prior research tends to treat left-behind children as homogeneous, overlooking variations in their family structures. Grounded in the Resilience and Youth Development Module, this study explores caregiver support among four distinct groups of left-behind children: children left behind by one (LBC-One) or two migrant parents (LBC-Two), children from divorced families left behind by the custodial parent (LBC-Divorced), and bereaved children left behind by their single living parent (LBC-Bereaved). Second, it examines the correlation between children’s resilience and caregiver support and, therefore, determines the mediating role of caregiver support in the relationship between family structure and resilience of rural left-behind children. Structural equation modeling analyses on a sample of 2,300 students ( M age = 13.93 ± 0.94 years) recruited from 4 junior schools reveal that LBC-One received significantly more caregiver support than the other three groups. In addition, caregiver support mediates the resilience disparities between left-behind children from different family structures

Family resilience · Grounded theory · Left behind · Primary caregiver · Psychological resilience · Rural area · Social support · Structural equation modeling · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Family Support in Illness · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving