title: The protective functions of relationships, social support and self-esteem in the life satisfaction of children of migrant workers in Shanghai, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present, China has approximately 20 million migrant school-aged children accompanying their parents in relocating to the cities. However, very little is known about them. Using a resilience framework, the present study attempted to examine the psychosocial factors affecting their life satisfaction in Shanghai, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 625 migrant children were recruited from 10 schools in Shanghai through a cross-sectional survey design using multi-stage cluster sampling method. The questionnaire included measures of life satisfaction, self-esteem, social support, relationships at school and the parent-child and peer relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to explore the relative effects of different relationship domains, self-esteem and social support on the life satisfaction of migrant children. The results suggested that parent-child and peer relationships significantly influenced the life satisfaction of children of migrant workers. Relationships in school did not exert such effect. Both social support and self-esteem had significant effects on the life satisfaction of migrant children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relationship factors, social support and self-esteem are critical factors affecting the life satisfaction of migrant children. The findings and implications were discussed in relation to developmental and migration-related issues and the social contexts of the lives of children of migrant workers in Shanghai, China.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Social Work, University of Melbourne, Australia. fwong@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Daniel Fu Keung
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yingli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Xuesong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qiaobing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*