Dynamic Research On The Physical And Mental Health Status Of Left-behind Children In China

ObjectiveBased on the data of Peking University’s China Family Panel Survey,this paper studies the health status of left-behind children.The aim is to understand the dynamic changes in the physical and mental health of left-behind children across the country,and the differences between the daily behavior of left-behind children and non-left-behind children.Through the comparison between left-behind children and non-left-behind children,it is analyzed whether the factors of parental migrant workers have an impact on children’s physical and mental health.Reveal the new situation of left-behind children’s health status nationwide,provide a basis for effectively solving the left-behind children’s health problems under the new situation,and promote the healthy growth of left-behind children.MethodsThis article uses the China Family Panel Survey 2010-2016 tracking data.Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used to describe the basic situation of left-behind children.The propensity score matching method was used to match the children in the left-behind group to the control children with similar characteristics.The multi-factor Logit conditional regression model was used to estimate the probability value of left-behind children.The confounding factors between the two groups make the children in the left-behind group and the non-left-behind group comparable;based on the covariate distribution equilibrium,the differences in difference method is used to calculate the difference between the two-year changes in the physical and mental health indicators,and it is estimated the impact of the left-behind children self-rated health and physical and mental health status.Through the above treatment,we can get whether the health status of the children staying at home will be affected before and after the parental migrant,and the net effect of the parental migrant factors on the health of the left-behind children.ResultsPropensity score matching result:The matching variables are determined by Logit model fitting effect as child age,child gender,child living province,child account type,child education level,parent age,parental household type,parental education level,parental health status,family population There are 17 variables in the number,family per capita annual income,and family living conditions(the Pseudo R2 of the model regression is 0.155,the AUC is 0.780,and the fitting effect is good).Before the propensity match,13 of the variables were statistically significant between the left-behind group and the non-left-behind group(P<0.05),and the 4 variables were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05);There were no significant differences in the 17 variables between the two groups(P>0.05).Difference in Difference results:In the self-rated of health,the self-rated health of left-behind children and non-left-behind children was statistically significant during the observation period of 2010-2012(t=6.73,P<0.05,net effect was 0.127),the difference was statistically significant during the observation period in 2010-2014(t=5.65,P<0.05,net effect was 0.099),and the difference was close to no statistical significance during the observation period of 201 0-2016(t=1.97,P=0.049,net effect was 0.02);In terms of physical health,there was no significant difference in body mass index between left-behind children and non-left-behind children during the three observation periods(t1=1.05,t2=0.66,t3=1.28,P>0.05).In terms of medical treatment,the difference between left-behind children and non-left-behind children was statistically significant(t=2.58,P<0.05,net effect was-0.093).In terms of mental health,There was no significant difference in depression,self-esteem,and life happiness between left-behind children and non-left-behind children(t depression = 0.60,t self-esteem =0.05,t life happiness= 1.43,P>0.05).Conclusions1 Parents go out to work for the left-behind children’s self-rated health is generally significantly different,but the negative impact on the left-behind children’s self-rated health is decreasing year by year,in the 2010-201 6 observation period between the left-behind group and the non-left-behind group approaching no difference.2 Parents go out to work,there is no significant difference in the body mass index of left-behind children,and there is significant difference in the way of medical treatment of left-behind children.3 Parents go out to work,there is no significant difference in the depression,self-esteem,and happiness of the left-behind children.