title: Left-behind children in rural China experience higher levels of anxiety and poorer living conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of rural Chinese parents who leave their children with family members to work in the cities has increased dramatically over the last decade. This study compared the social anxiety of left-behind children (LBC) and children not left behind (non-LBC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 1694 LBC and 1223 non-LBC, aged seven to 17 years, in a Chinese province using a structured questionnaire that included questions about socio-demographic characteristics, social anxiety, family function, quality of life, neglect and physical abuse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LBC displayed higher social anxiety scores, more neglect, lower parental educational level, lower quality of life, lower family function and lower prevalence of physical abuse than non-LBC. Multiple linear regression models showed that higher Social Anxiety Scales for Children (SASC) scores in LBC were clearly associated with lower quality of life, poorer family function, physical abuse, being female, having more siblings and minorities. In non-LBC, they were associated with lower quality of life, poorer family function, neglect, being female and physical abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBC have a relatively higher level of social anxiety and poorer living conditions than non-LBC, and there are differences in social anxiety, and its relevant factors, between the two groups.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Ming-Chun
authors: MC
authors: Chen
authors: Xiao-Ling
authors: XL
authors: Lv
authors: Yu-Hong
authors: YH
authors: Jiang
authors: Ye-Huan
authors: YH
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Family function; Left-behind children; Quality of life; Social anxiety