Work

The Effects of Parental Absence on Children Development: Evidence from Left-Behind Children in China

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Parental care in early childhood is viewed as one of the most important factors that help foster children's abilities. Using two nationally representative datasets collected in China, this paper examines the effects of parental absence on the short-term in-school outcomes and long-term educational achievement of left-behind children. The results show that parental absence is negatively associated with the development of left-behind children. Left-behind children have a lower cognitive test score and academic test score, and they are also less likely to attend a college. In particular, a mother's absence seems to have persistent negative effects on children's development. Mechanism analyses show that parental absence may result in a less healthy mental status of children and reduce children's efforts in class. However, we do not find significant evidence that the exposure to left-behind children in class lowers the in-school outcomes of children.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186770

Authors: Mingzhi Mao, Lijun Zang, Haifeng Zhang

Institution: Zhejiang University

Language: English

Topic: Family Dynamics and Relationships

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,429