The status quo and influencing factors of loneliness of left behind children in poor rural areas of western hunan

Peng Fen; Yang Qing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-6493.2016.31.013

Abstract：Objective:To probe into the status quo and influencing factors of rural left behind children’s loneli-ness.Methods:A cluster sampling method was used to collect 985 pupils from fourth to sixth grade in poor ru-ral areas of western Hunan,and the children’s loneliness scale was used as a measurement tool.Results:The de-tection rate of left behind children’s loneliness was 13.8%;the single factor analysis showed that the loneli-ness of boys was stronger than that of girls(P =0.01 9);the score of loneliness under 9 years old children was significantly higher than that of children older than 12 years(P =0.007).The scores of children in the 10 year old group were higher than those in the 1 1 year old group(P =0.040)and the 12 year old above group(P =0.003);the children in fourth grade felt more loneliness than fifth grade(P =0.000)and sixth grade(P =0.000), and the children in fifth grade felt more than sixth grade(P =0.047).The loneliness of those who stayed for more than 5 years was significantly higher than those in other groups(P <0.05);the loneliness was the most prominent among those who had not been visited by parents for more than 4 years(P <0.05).Logistic regres-sion analysis showed that female and high grade were the protective factors of children’s loneliness(P =0.025, P =0.000).Conclusions:Loneliness of left behind children in poor rural areas in western Hunan was high.We should encourage boys to express their emotions,strengthen their parent child communication,and strengthen their peer relationships to improve emotional support of left behind children and reduce the loneliness.