Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 5/2014

01.10.2014 | Original Paper

The Impact of Parental Migration on the Mental Health of Children Left Behind

verfasst von: Ramesh Adhikari, Aree Jampaklay, Aphichat Chamratrithirong, Kerry Richter, Umaporn Pattaravanich, Patama Vapattanawong

Erschienen in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Ausgabe 5/2014

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of parental international migration on the mental health of children left behind. Data for this paper were taken from the “Child Health and Migrant Parents in South-East Asia, Thailand, 2008” project. A total of 1,030 children (519 from emigrant parents and 511 from non-migrant parents) were covered. Data were collected from the caregivers of children using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between parental migration and the mental health status of children left behind. Several factors were significantly associated with children’s mental health. Our study did not find any association between current parental migration status and mental health status of the children left behind. The study found, however, that mother’s earlier migration history had a significant, independent association with mental health problems of the children left behind. Therefore, effective strategies to prevent such mental health problems among children are warranted.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Aarons GA, Monn AR, Leslie LK, Garland AF, Lugo L, Hough RL, et al. Association between mental and physical health problems in high-risk adolescents: a longitudinal study. J Adolesc Health. 2008;43(3):260–7.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef Aarons GA, Monn AR, Leslie LK, Garland AF, Lugo L, Hough RL, et al. Association between mental and physical health problems in high-risk adolescents: a longitudinal study. J Adolesc Health. 2008;43(3):260–7.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Achenbach TM, Becker A, Döpfner M, Heiervang E, Roessner V, Steinhausen H-C, et al. Multicultural assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology with ASEBA and SDQ instruments: research findings, applications, and future directions. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49(3):251–75.PubMedCrossRef Achenbach TM, Becker A, Döpfner M, Heiervang E, Roessner V, Steinhausen H-C, et al. Multicultural assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology with ASEBA and SDQ instruments: research findings, applications, and future directions. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49(3):251–75.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Adhikari R, Jampaklay A, Chamratrithirong A. Impact of children’s migration on health and health care-seeking behavior of elderly left behind. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:143.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef Adhikari R, Jampaklay A, Chamratrithirong A. Impact of children’s migration on health and health care-seeking behavior of elderly left behind. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:143.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Adhikari R, Jampaklay A, Chamratrithirong A., Pattaravanich U, Vapattanawong P. The impact of parental migration on the mental health of children left behind. Paper presented at the Population Association of America, 2012 annual meeting program. 2012. Adhikari R, Jampaklay A, Chamratrithirong A., Pattaravanich U, Vapattanawong P. The impact of parental migration on the mental health of children left behind. Paper presented at the Population Association of America, 2012 annual meeting program. 2012.
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Aguilera-Guzman RM, de Snyder VN, Romero M, Medina-Mora ME. Paternal absence and international migration: stressors and compensators associated with the mental health of mexican teenagers of rural origin. Adolescence. 2004;39(156):711–23.PubMed Aguilera-Guzman RM, de Snyder VN, Romero M, Medina-Mora ME. Paternal absence and international migration: stressors and compensators associated with the mental health of mexican teenagers of rural origin. Adolescence. 2004;39(156):711–23.PubMed
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Asis MMB. Living with migration: experiences of children left behind in the philippines. Asian Popul. Stud. 2006;2(1):45–67.CrossRef Asis MMB. Living with migration: experiences of children left behind in the philippines. Asian Popul. Stud. 2006;2(1):45–67.CrossRef
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Battistella G, Conaco CG. The impact of labour migration on the children left behind: a study of elementary school children in the Phillipines. Sojourn. 1998;13(2):1–22.CrossRef Battistella G, Conaco CG. The impact of labour migration on the children left behind: a study of elementary school children in the Phillipines. Sojourn. 1998;13(2):1–22.CrossRef
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Bourdon KH, Goodman R, Rae DS, Simpson G, Koretz DS. The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: U.S. normative data and psychometric properties. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005;44(6):557–64.PubMedCrossRef Bourdon KH, Goodman R, Rae DS, Simpson G, Koretz DS. The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: U.S. normative data and psychometric properties. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005;44(6):557–64.PubMedCrossRef
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Carballo M, Divino JJ, Zeric D. Migration and health in the european union. Tropical Med Int Health. 1998;3(12):936–44.CrossRef Carballo M, Divino JJ, Zeric D. Migration and health in the european union. Tropical Med Int Health. 1998;3(12):936–44.CrossRef
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Chant S, Radcliffe S. Migration and development: the importance of gender. In: Chant S, editor. Gender and migration in developing countries. New York: Belhaven Press; 1992. p. 1–29. Chant S, Radcliffe S. Migration and development: the importance of gender. In: Chant S, editor. Gender and migration in developing countries. New York: Belhaven Press; 1992. p. 1–29.
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Cortes R. Remittances and children’s rights: an overview of academic and policy literature: UNICEF 2007. Cortes R. Remittances and children’s rights: an overview of academic and policy literature: UNICEF 2007.
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Fan F, Sang B. Absence of parental upbringing and Liushou children’s personality, academic achievements as well as behavior problems. Psychol Sci. 2005;28(156):855–9. Fan F, Sang B. Absence of parental upbringing and Liushou children’s personality, academic achievements as well as behavior problems. Psychol Sci. 2005;28(156):855–9.
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Fan F, Su L, Gill MK, Birmaher B. Emotional and behavioral problems of Chinese left-behind children: a preliminary study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2010;45(6):655–64.PubMedCrossRef Fan F, Su L, Gill MK, Birmaher B. Emotional and behavioral problems of Chinese left-behind children: a preliminary study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2010;45(6):655–64.PubMedCrossRef
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Gao Y, Li LP, Kim JH, Congdon N, Lau J, Griffiths S. The impact of parental migration on health status and health behaviours among left behind adolescent school children in China. BMC Public Health. 2010;10:56.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef Gao Y, Li LP, Kim JH, Congdon N, Lau J, Griffiths S. The impact of parental migration on health status and health behaviours among left behind adolescent school children in China. BMC Public Health. 2010;10:56.PubMedCentralPubMedCrossRef
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Goodman R. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997;38(5):581–6.PubMedCrossRef Goodman R. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997;38(5):581–6.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Goodman R. The extended version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire as a guide to child psychiatric caseness and consequent burden. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999;40:791–9.PubMedCrossRef Goodman R. The extended version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire as a guide to child psychiatric caseness and consequent burden. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1999;40:791–9.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Goodman R. Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001;40(11):1337–45.PubMedCrossRef Goodman R. Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001;40(11):1337–45.PubMedCrossRef
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Goodman R, Ford T, Simmons H, Gatward R, Meltzer H. Using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for child psychiatric disorders in a community sample. Br J Psychiatry. 2000;177:534–9.PubMedCrossRef Goodman R, Ford T, Simmons H, Gatward R, Meltzer H. Using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for child psychiatric disorders in a community sample. Br J Psychiatry. 2000;177:534–9.PubMedCrossRef
19.
Zurück zum Zitat Gulati L. In the absence of their men: the impact of male migration on women. London: Sage publications; 1993. Gulati L. In the absence of their men: the impact of male migration on women. London: Sage publications; 1993.
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Hadi A. Overseas migration and the well-being of those left behind in rural communities of Bangladesh. Asia Pac Popul J. 1999;14:43–58.PubMed Hadi A. Overseas migration and the well-being of those left behind in rural communities of Bangladesh. Asia Pac Popul J. 1999;14:43–58.PubMed
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Heiervang E, Goodman A, Goodman R. The Nordic advantage in child mental health: separating health differences from reporting style in a cross-cultural comparison of psychopathology. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49(6):678–85.PubMedCrossRef Heiervang E, Goodman A, Goodman R. The Nordic advantage in child mental health: separating health differences from reporting style in a cross-cultural comparison of psychopathology. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49(6):678–85.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Zurück zum Zitat Hugo G. Effects of international migration on the family in indonesia. Asian Pac Migr J. 2002;11(1):13–46. Hugo G. Effects of international migration on the family in indonesia. Asian Pac Migr J. 2002;11(1):13–46.
23.
Zurück zum Zitat Hysing M, Elgen I, Gillberg C, Lie SA, Lundervold AJ. Chronic physical illness and mental health in children. Results from a large-scale population study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007;48(8):785–92.PubMedCrossRef Hysing M, Elgen I, Gillberg C, Lie SA, Lundervold AJ. Chronic physical illness and mental health in children. Results from a large-scale population study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007;48(8):785–92.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Zurück zum Zitat Jampaklay A. Parental absence and children’s school environment: evidence from a longitudinal study in Kanchanaburi. Thail Asian Popul Stud. 2006;2(1):93–110.CrossRef Jampaklay A. Parental absence and children’s school environment: evidence from a longitudinal study in Kanchanaburi. Thail Asian Popul Stud. 2006;2(1):93–110.CrossRef
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Jampaklay A. Migration and children. In: Huguet JW, Chamratrithirong A, editors. Thailand migration report 2011—migration for development in Thailand: overview and tools for policymakers. Bangkok: International Organization for Migration, Thailand Office; 2011. Jampaklay A. Migration and children. In: Huguet JW, Chamratrithirong A, editors. Thailand migration report 2011—migration for development in Thailand: overview and tools for policymakers. Bangkok: International Organization for Migration, Thailand Office; 2011.
26.
Zurück zum Zitat Jones A, Sharpe J, Sogren M. Children’s experiences of separation from parents as a consequence of migration. Caribb J Soc Work. 2004;3:89–109. Jones A, Sharpe J, Sogren M. Children’s experiences of separation from parents as a consequence of migration. Caribb J Soc Work. 2004;3:89–109.
27.
Zurück zum Zitat Jones H, Kittisuksathit S. International labour migration and quality of life: findings from rural Thailand. Int J Popul Geogr. 2003;9(6):517–30.CrossRef Jones H, Kittisuksathit S. International labour migration and quality of life: findings from rural Thailand. Int J Popul Geogr. 2003;9(6):517–30.CrossRef
28.
Zurück zum Zitat Kahn K, Collinson M, Tollman S, Wolff B, Garenne M, Clark S. Health consequences of migration: evidence from south Africa’s rural Northeast. Paper presented at the African Migration in Comparative Perspective 2003. Kahn K, Collinson M, Tollman S, Wolff B, Garenne M, Clark S. Health consequences of migration: evidence from south Africa’s rural Northeast. Paper presented at the African Migration in Comparative Perspective 2003.
29.
Zurück zum Zitat Konseiga A, Zulu ME, Bocquier P, Muindi K, Beguy D, Ye Y. Assessing the effect of mother’s migration on childhood mortality in the informal settlements of Nairobi. In: Collinson M, Adazu K, White M, Findley S, editors. The dynamics of migration, health and livelihoods. England: INDEPTH Network Perspectives; 2009. p. 123–38. Konseiga A, Zulu ME, Bocquier P, Muindi K, Beguy D, Ye Y. Assessing the effect of mother’s migration on childhood mortality in the informal settlements of Nairobi. In: Collinson M, Adazu K, White M, Findley S, editors. The dynamics of migration, health and livelihoods. England: INDEPTH Network Perspectives; 2009. p. 123–38.
31.
Zurück zum Zitat Massey DS, Arango J, Hugo G, Kouaouci A, Pellegrino A, Taylor JE. An evaluation of international migration theory: the north American case. Popul Dev Rev. 1993;20(4):699–751.CrossRef Massey DS, Arango J, Hugo G, Kouaouci A, Pellegrino A, Taylor JE. An evaluation of international migration theory: the north American case. Popul Dev Rev. 1993;20(4):699–751.CrossRef
32.
Zurück zum Zitat Nanthamongkolchai S, Ladda M, Nichara R, Sirikul I. Family migration and IQ of school age children and adolescents in Thailand. J Demogr. 2006;22(1):33–45. Nanthamongkolchai S, Ladda M, Nichara R, Sirikul I. Family migration and IQ of school age children and adolescents in Thailand. J Demogr. 2006;22(1):33–45.
33.
Zurück zum Zitat Phuc DH, Thanh XN, Chuc KTN. Migration and under five morbidity in Bavi, Vietnam. In: Collinson M, Adazu K, White M, Findley S, editors. The dynamics of migration, health and livelihoods. England: INDEPTH Network Perspectives; 2009. p. 169–84. Phuc DH, Thanh XN, Chuc KTN. Migration and under five morbidity in Bavi, Vietnam. In: Collinson M, Adazu K, White M, Findley S, editors. The dynamics of migration, health and livelihoods. England: INDEPTH Network Perspectives; 2009. p. 169–84.
34.
Zurück zum Zitat Pottinger AM. Children’s experience of loss by parental migration in inner-city Jamaica. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2005;75(4):485–96.PubMedCrossRef Pottinger AM. Children’s experience of loss by parental migration in inner-city Jamaica. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2005;75(4):485–96.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Zurück zum Zitat Salah MA. The impact of migration on children in Moldova: UNICEF 2008. Salah MA. The impact of migration on children in Moldova: UNICEF 2008.
36.
Zurück zum Zitat Save the Children Sri Lanka. Left behind, left out: the impact on children and families of mother migrating for work abroad: summary report. Colombo: Save the children Sri Lanka; 2006. Save the Children Sri Lanka. Left behind, left out: the impact on children and families of mother migrating for work abroad: summary report. Colombo: Save the children Sri Lanka; 2006.
37.
Zurück zum Zitat SMC. Hearts apart: migration in the eyes of filipino children: episcopal commission for the pastoral care of migrant and itinerant people-cbcp/apostleship of the sea-manila, Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 2005. SMC. Hearts apart: migration in the eyes of filipino children: episcopal commission for the pastoral care of migrant and itinerant people-cbcp/apostleship of the sea-manila, Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 2005.
38.
Zurück zum Zitat Stark O, Taylor JE. Migration incentives, migration types: the role of relative deprivation. Econ. J. 1991;101(408):1163–78.CrossRef Stark O, Taylor JE. Migration incentives, migration types: the role of relative deprivation. Econ. J. 1991;101(408):1163–78.CrossRef
39.
Zurück zum Zitat Woerner W, Nuanmanee S, Becker A, Wongpiromsarn YAM. Normative data and psychometric properties of the Thai version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Ment Health Thail. 2011;19(1):42–57. Woerner W, Nuanmanee S, Becker A, Wongpiromsarn YAM. Normative data and psychometric properties of the Thai version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Ment Health Thail. 2011;19(1):42–57.
Metadaten
Titel
The Impact of Parental Migration on the Mental Health of Children Left Behind
verfasst von
Ramesh Adhikari
Aree Jampaklay
Aphichat Chamratrithirong
Kerry Richter
Umaporn Pattaravanich
Patama Vapattanawong
Publikationsdatum
01.10.2014
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Ausgabe 5/2014
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Elektronische ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9809-5

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 5/2014

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health 5/2014 Zur Ausgabe