Life events and family influential factors among different rural left-behind children

ObjectiveTo study the status of life events among left-behind children,ever left-behind children and non-left-behind children in rural area,and to explore familial factors associated with the events.MethodsStratified cluster sampling method was adopted to choose 1 485 students of 4 to 9 grade from primary and middle schools in Dingxin village and Chongxin town of Qianxi county,Guizhou province.A self-designed questionnaire and Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List(ASLEC) were used.ResultsThere were no significant differences in total and factor scores of life events among left-behind boys,ever left-behind and non-left-behind boys(P>0.05).Average total score and scores for interpersonal relationship,learning pressure,being punished,loss,health adaption,and other factors for life events of left-behind girls were 45.83,9.67,9.69,10.23,5.71,6.19,and 4.34;the scores for ever left-behind girls were 45.54,9.18,9.96,10.65,6.33,5.41,and 3.99;and the scores for non-left-behind girls were 40.32,8.22,8.73,8.33,5.16,4.37,and 3.26,respectively.The total score and scores of each factor of life events of left-behind girls were higher than those of non-left-behind girls,except for factor of loss(P≤0.017).The total score and scores of each factor of life events for ever left-behind girls were higher than those of non-left-behind girls,except for interpersonal relationship and other factor(P≤0.017).The differences in total and factor scores between left-behind and ever left-behind girls were not statistically significant.Family atmosphere,age,family economic status,communication with parents,and the time of parents going out were associated with life events among left-behind children,and communication with parents and age were associated with life events in ever left-behind children.ConclusionGender and left-behind status are related with the children’s life events.The experience of left-behind has a lasting effect on the children’s life events,and the status of family feeling is closely related to life events among left-behind children and ever left-behind children.