The Developmental Trajectory of Social Adjustment Among Left‐Behind Children in China: The Predictive Role of Gender, Left‐Behind Status and Parent‐Child Cohesion

ABSTRACT

Few studies have systematically examined social adjustment of left‐behind children. A longitudinal study with three waves was conducted on 512 Chinese left‐behind children to address the gaps. The unconditional latent growth curve model revealed a linear decline in problem behaviors over time, whereas prosocial behaviors and school engagement showed an increasing trend. The conditional latent growth curve model indicated significant differences by gender and left‐behind status in the initial levels of problem behavior, prosocial behavior, and school engagement. Children with different left‐behind statuses exhibited distinct developmental patterns of prosocial behaviors. Parent‐child cohesion played a protective role in problem behaviors, prosocial behaviors, and school engagement. These findings underline the protective role of parent‐child cohesion and highlight the importance of providing targeted social services for different types of left behind children.