OBJECTIVETo explore the influences of guardians on emotion and behavior of rural left-behind children aged 3 to 7 years.

METHODSA self-designed questionnaire of children's condition and Children Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (the edition for parents, SDQ) were used to investigate 805 left-behind children aged 3 to 7 years in countryside.

RESULTSThe prevalence of difficulty among left-behind children was 3.5%, in male it was 4.1% and in female 2.7%, the difference was not significant (chi(2) = 1.154, P > 0.05) between male and female. The scores of peer communication problems among associate the left-behind children were (2.30 +/- 1.86), which was significantly higher than that (2.09 +/- 1.74) of not left-behind children (P < 0.05). The score of emotion symptom was (2.76 +/- 1.84) and the total score of difficulty was (11.41 +/- 4.77) among left-behind children was significantly higher than those of left-behind children with one parent stayed out (2.29 +/- 1.64) and (10.41 +/- 5.18), were significantly different (t = -2.489 - 2.006, P < 0.05), the score of social behavior (6.39 +/- 2.26) was significantly lower than that of left-behind children with father or mother stayed out (7.34 +/- 2.18, P < 0.001). The score of social behavior of children whose guardians had higher education level (7.02 +/- 2.21) was significantly higher than those with guardians who were illiterate or semiliterate (6.20 +/- 2.44, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThere are evident problems in emotion and behavior among left-behind children with parents staying out. One of parents should stay home to care for children. To improve educational level of guardian will be beneficial to development of physical and mental health among left-behind children.