Affiliation:
1. The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders & Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Center of Schizophrenia, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, China
2. The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Huiai Hospital, China
3. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
5. Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, College of Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the neglect of left-behind children (LBC) in China. Method: Participants: Children separated from one or both parents for at least 6 months. Intervention: Trauma of separation. Comparison: Non-left-behind children (NLBC). Outcomes: Neglect rates and severity. Only case–control studies were included. Results: Thirteen studies were included; there were 18,688 LBC in a large sample ( N = 42,003) of children aged 0–18 years in China. The overall neglect rate was significantly higher in LBC compared to NLBC (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.50, 1.67], p < .01) based on the Chinese Rural Child Neglected Evaluation Model (CRCNEM) and the Parents–Child Conflict Tactics Scales ( OR = 1.44, 95% CI [1.35, 1.54], p < .01). The overall neglect severity in LBC was also significantly higher than NLBC ( SMD = 0.31, 95% CI [0.28, 0.33], p < .01). The same trends were observed in sex subgroups. With regard to subtypes, LBC were significantly more likely to have emotional neglect ( OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.88, 2.78], p < .01), medical neglect ( OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.62, 1.98], p < .01), physical neglect ( OR = 1.75, 95% CI [1.60, 1.91], p < .01), security neglect ( OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.32, 1.75], p < .01), educational neglect ( OR = 1.50, 95% CI [1.31, 1.72], p < .01), and social neglect ( OR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.18, 1.51], p < .01). Furthermore, LBC had significantly higher severity in medical neglect ( SMD = 0.31, 95% CI [0.27, 0.35], p < .01), emotional neglect ( SMD = 0.28, 95% CI [0.24, 0.32], p < .01), physical neglect ( SMD = 0.24, 95% CI [0.18, 0.29], p < .01), security neglect ( SMD = 0.26, 95% CI [0.23, 0.29], p < .01), educational neglect ( SMD = 0.25, 95% CI [0.20, 0.31], p < .01), and social neglect ( SMD = 0.25, 95% CI [0.10, 0.40], p < .01). Conclusion: The neglect rates and severity in LBC in China were both significantly higher than those in NLBC. There was a strong association between neglect and LBC. Public policy changes are urgently needed to improve the dire situation and the well-being of the LBC.
Funder
Neuroscience research program of the Beijing science and technology plan
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Applied Psychology,Health (social science)