Personality and depressive symptoms and their influential factors in children left-behind in rural area

Objective To explor the personality,depressive symptoms and their relative factors among children left-behind in rural areas.Methods A survey was carried out in 270 children aged 7-16 years left-behind in rural areas and 609 non-left-behind with Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ)and Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale for Children(CES-DC).Results Left-behind children had higher scores than non-left-behind children in P and N disemsion and CES-DC(P<0.05,P<0.01).The prevalence of character limitations was significantly higher in left-behind children (64.4%)than in non-left-behind group(47.6%;χ²=21.25,P<0.01).The depressive symptoms score of the left-behind children was significant higher(40.4%)than that of the non left-behind group(27.8%;χ²=13.78,P<0.01).Scores of EPQP and EPQN were positivey correlated with scores of CES-DC scale(r=0.198,r=0.372;P<0.01).Ten variables influenceing the personality traits and depressive symptoms of children were age,sex,peer interaction,parents' expectation for children,consanguineous marriage of parents,satisfaction to family condition,self-estimate,academic achievement,frequency of meeting with the parents,and psychiatric history of family.Conclusion The reare obviously character limitations and depression symptoms in children left-behind in rural areas.Efficient interference should be considered.Objective To explor the personality,depressive symptoms and their relative factors among children left-behind in rural areas.Methods A survey was carried out in 270 children aged 7-16 years left-behind in rural areas and 609 non-left-behind with Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ)and Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale for Children(CES-DC).Results Left-behind children had higher scores than non-left-behind children in P and N disemsion and CES-DC(P<0.05,P<0.01).The prevalence of character limitations was significantly higher in left-behind children (64.4%)than in non-left-behind group(47.6%;χ²=21.25,P<0.01).The depressive symptoms score of the left-behind children was significant higher(40.4%)than that of the non left-behind group(27.8%;χ²=13.78,P<0.01).Scores of EPQP and EPQN were positivey correlated with scores of CES-DC scale(r=0.198,r=0.372;P<0.01).Ten variables influenceing the personality traits and depressive symptoms of children were age,sex,peer interaction,parents' expectation for children,consanguineous marriage of parents,satisfaction to family condition,self-estimate,academic achievement,frequency of meeting with the parents,and psychiatric history of family.Conclusion The reare obviously character limitations and depression symptoms in children left-behind in rural areas.Efficient interference should be considered.