Family Function,Self-Concept,Health Of Rural Left-behind Children:Based On Structural Equation Modeling

We aim to explore the differences between China Rural left-behind children and those of non-left behind children on the issue of health, family function and self-concept. Previous studies have found that the psychological health, especially negative emotions, of children left behind is not as good as non-left-behind children. But there are ambiguous results in the social health. Family functioning is an important reason for negative emotions, so we introduce this variable in study 1. Theoretically, self-concept has strong relationship with family function and health, so we introduce this variable in study 2.All subjects are in junior school. They are 12-17 years-old (M=14.58, SD=0.69). This adolescence is focus on them. There are 777 respondents all over, of them there are 311 left-behind children,351 none left-behind children, and 151 do not fill in the blank of this information. We use Chinese version of Family Cohesion and Adaptability Questionnaire, Self-rated Health Questionnaire and modified Self-concept Questionnaire. Self-concept Questionnaire is from Self-Description Questionnaire. We use SPSS statistical software to analyze differences between left-behind children and none-left behind one. Also we use it to do Exploratory Factor analysis for self-concept questionnaire. We use Amos software to depict a Structural Equation Modeling. In the model, family function is the independent variable, self-concept is the intervening variable and health is the dependent variable. Then we run a mediate effect analysis.As a result, we find:1) Left-behind children have more negative affect; 2) also have more negative body self-concept; 3) Family function of adolescence have impact on physical health, psychological health and social health, significantly; 4) Family function also have great effect on self-concept, and self-concept affect health in adolescence. Most important, mediate effect is more than direct effect, though they are both statistically significant.These results imply that in left-behind children study, we can focus on negative emotions. In psychological counseling we can teach them emotion management and help them form a positive self-concept.