Comparative Research Between Mental Health And Behavior Problems Of Left-Behind Children And Those Of Non-Left-Behind Ones In Rural Shandong Province

Background:As the society and economy of China have been developing fast, more and more young and middle-aged labourers migrant from rural areas to urban areas for a better job or business. Because of educational, registery, economic barriers, their children have been left in their hometown, seprated from their parents. They are called "left-behind children". Lack of care and support from father or/and mother, they are more likely to have sproblems in study, safety, physical and mental well-being and behavior, compared to other children.Objectives:To understand the difference of current situation of lonliness, social anxiety and behavior problems between left-behind children and non-left-behind ones in rural Shandong Province, to explore the potential factors influencing lonliness, social anxiety and behavior problems of rural children, and to offer proposals on how to improve the mental health and reduce the likelihood of behavior problems among of rural children, especially among left-behind children.Methods: Stratified random cluster sampling method was used in this research. Three counties were randomly selected from eastern, middle and western Shandong Province. One town was chosen randomly from each county, and1-3primary schools were chosen randomly from each town. All students from each school were included in the research. Children’s Loneliness Scale, Social Anxiety Scale for Children, Rutter Parent Scale and self-made questionnaire were adopted. Epidata was used to doubly input data, and SPSS17.0to conduct data analysis.Main results:Ⅰ.26.7%of the sampling rural children were left-behind children.Ⅱ. The lonliness and behavior problems of left-behind children were more severe than non-left-behind ones.Ⅲ. The potential factors influencing lonliness, social anxiety and behavior problems of rural children are consisted of educating means of teachers, parenting style and partnership. Being too stern to children, tense parents’ relationship and poor partnership do harm to their mental heath and behavior problems, while suitable educating (such as approving and guiding) can promote heath development.Conclusions and Suggestions:Ⅰ. The problems of loneliness and behavior of left-behind children were more serious than non left-behind ones.Ⅱ. Apropriate educational methods should be adopted by parents and teachers to promote heath development of rural children. And parents should keep harmonious relationship.Ⅲ. Left-behind children need more care and instruction to improve mental health and overcome behavior problems.