title: Parental absence, child victimization, and psychological well-being in rural China.
abstract: Using cross-sectional data regarding 793 rural children aged 10-16 in Sichuan Province of China, the present study examined the preceding-year rates of seven forms of child victimization (physical assault, property crime, peer/sibling victimization, child maltreatment, sexual victimization, witnessing family violence, and exposure to community violence) and poly-victimization, and found children's victimization experiences increased as the degree of parental absence increased (from the presence of two biological parents, to parental migration and parental separation and divorce). Elevated levels of depression were also found among left-behind children and children of separated or divorced parents, compared to children living with both biological parents; and child poly-victimization added to the risk of child depression. Certain demographic characteristics (being a boy and younger) and parental factors were associated with child victimization in rural China. This study highlights the need for child protection in rural China, and in particular for parent-absent children.
authors: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors: Mengtong
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Social Welfare, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: eklchan@hku.hk.
authors: Ko Ling
authors: KL
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Child victimization; Depression; Left-behind children; Parental absence; Poly-victimization