Association of socio ecological risk factors and psychological empowerment with personal growth initiative in left behind children
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2026260
- VernacularTitle:社会生态风险因素和心理赋权与留守儿童个人成长主动性的关联
- Author:
WANG Lingjie , LI Jun
1
Author Information
1. Department of Basic Courses, Hengshui University, Hengshui 053010, Hebei Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cumulative ecological risk;
Mental health;
Models,statistical;
Child
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2026;47(9):1277-1280
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the association between socio ecological risk factors and personal growth initiative among left behind children, as well as the mediating role of psychological empowerment, thereby providing theoretical and practical references for promoting active growth in left behind children.
Methods:From September to October 2025, a cluster random sampling method was used to select 1 038 left behind children from 8 junior high schools in Yunnan Province. The survey was conducted using the Short Questionnaire of Socio-Ecological Risk Factors Assessment for Adolescents, the Psychological Empowerment Scale for Left Behind Children, and the Personal Growth Initiative Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the correlations among variables; a simple mediation model was used to test the mediating effect of psychological empowerment between socio ecological risk factors and personal growth initiative; and structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to compare the differential effects across different socio ecological risk dimensions.
Results:All seven risk dimensions (individual, family, school, community, policy, cultural and temporal risks) were significantly negatively correlated with psychological empowerment ( r = -0.43 to -0.48 ) and personal growth initiative ( r =-0.51 to -0.54) (all P <0.01). Socio ecological risk factors were negatively associated with personal growth initiative ( β =-0.373). Psychological empowerment partially mediated the association between socio ecological risk factors and personal growth initiative ( β=-0.183, 95%CI =-0.211 to -0.155), with the mediating effect accounted for 49.06%. Among the seven risk dimensions, school risk ( β =-0.133) and family risk ( β =-0.117) exerted the strongest effects, followed by cultural risk ( β =-0.072) (all P <0.05), with their relative explanatory rates being 35.75%, 31.45% and 19.35% respectively. The effects of individual, community, policy and temporal risks were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05 ).
Conclusions:Socio ecological risk factors were negatively associated with personal growth initiative among left behind children, and psychological empowerment played a partial mediating role in the relationship. Family, school and culture were core risk dimensions requiring focused attention.
