Social Support and Left-Behind Children’s Social Adaptation: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem

Mei Peng () and Binrong Dai ()
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Mei Peng: Tianjin Normal University
Binrong Dai: Yancheng Teachers University

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2023, vol. 170, issue 1, No 8, 117-135

Abstract: Abstract The mechanism by which social support contributes to the social adaptation of left-behind children (LBC) in mainland China remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the direct effect of social support and the mediating role of self-esteem on LBC’s social adaptation. Data from 983 children in grades 4–9 from 6 schools were collected in a rural area of Jiangsu Province in mainland China. The study’s results indicated that LBC had significantly lower subjective support, support-seeking behavior, self-esteem, and social adaptation than non-left-behind children (NLBC). In addition, social support significantly and positively predicted LBC’s social adaptation, and self-esteem partially mediated the influence of social support on LBC’s social adaptation. These findings provide a timely and necessary understanding of the development and interventions for LBC’s social adaptation.

Keywords: Social support; Self-esteem; Social adaptation; Left-behind children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-023-03074-0

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