Effect of peer attachment and loneliness on self-esteem among children in rural area
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2020.02.019
- VernacularTitle:农村儿童同伴依恋和孤独感对自尊的影响
- Author:
LIU Fangsong , CHUI Tsz Yeung Harold, WANG Xinhong, CHEN Na
1
Author Information
1. Faculty of Education, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong(999077), China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Object attachment;
Loneliness;
Self concept;
Mental health;
Child;
Rural population
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2020;41(2):232-234
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To study the effects of peer attachment and loneliness on self-esteem and to provide suggestions for the development of self-esteem among children in rural area.
Methods:A total of 1 009 fourth to sixth graders from ten primary schools in rural area of Sichuan and Henan Provinces participated in this longitudinal study. The self-esteem, peer attachment and loneliness were assessed at baseline, and the selfesteem was assessed after 9-month follow up.
Results:After controlling for age, gender, whether parents migrate to work in urban area and self-esteem, peer attachment( β =0.14)and loneliness at Time 1 ( β = -0.13 ) were found to significantly predict self-esteem at Time 2. In addition, the interaction between loneliness at Time 1 and peer attachment at Time 1 on self-esteem at Time 2 was significant( β =-0.08)( P <0.01). Specifically, the relation between peer attachment at Time 1 and selfesteem at Time 2 was greater when children had low level of loneliness at Time 1.
Conclusion:The findings indicated that initial low level of loneliness facilitates the protective effect of initial peer attachment on later self-esteem. It reminds parents and educators that both promoting children’s secure attachment towards peers and reducing children’s sense of loneliness are needed in order to develop children’s self-esteem in rural area.
