Objective:
To investigate the gender difference of left-behind adolescents mental health in rural junior middle schools, and to explore possible moderating role of parent-child interaction.
Methods:
Based on the data of China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) from 2014 to 2015, the self-reported parent-child interaction frequency and mental health of 3 470 eighth grade students lived in rural area were analyzed.
Results:
Mental health scores were higher in left-behind boys (68.90±22.45) whose parents migration compared to left-behind girls (63.59±20.83)(t=3.02, P<0.01). The two-level mixed effect linear regression model showed that the negative impact of parental migration on the parentchild interaction and mental health of left behind girls was greater than that of left behind boys (B=-0.90, -4.02, P<0.05). The frequency of parent-child interaction moderated the gender difference of mental health of left behind adolescents (P<0.01). The above-mentioned gender differences decreased after adding the frequency of parent-child interaction (B=-3.65, P<0.1).
Conclusion
The negative impact of parental migration on mental health of left-behind girls in junior high school is stronger than boys. It is needed to take more care of the mental health and promote parent-child communication for left-behind girls.