Family Environment and Effect on Left-Behind Children’s Mental Health

Sendelta International Academy, Baoan District, Shenzhen 518108, Guangdong Province, China

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

This study systematically discusses the impact of the family environment on the mental health of left-behind children from four aspects: type of left-behind status, parenting style, parent-child relationship, and parental marital quality. The mental health problems of left-behind children should be understood as a comprehensive consequence of impaired family environment function. Both parents being left behind usually corresponds to a higher level of risk exposure. Positive parenting styles can buffer adverse effects by enhancing self-control and emotional regulation. High-quality parent-child relationships and effective communication are important protective factors for improving psychological resilience and promoting school adaptation. The quality of parental marriage is likely to indirectly affect children through the family atmosphere and the caregiver’s condition. This study argues that understanding and intervening in the mental health problems of left-behind children must move beyond the static label of whether they are left behind and shift to a dynamic perspective of how the family environment functions. Support for this group should place greater emphasis on maintaining parent-child bonds, positive parenting, and the emotional functioning of the family.