Left Too Early: The Effects of Age at Separation From Parents on Chinese Rural Children's Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

Objectives. We examined the effect of age at separation from parents on symptoms of anxiety and depression among children in rural communities in China whose parents migrated to cities in search of employment opportunities during the country's rapid economic development. Methods. Students in 3 rural areas, Anhui, Chongqing, and Guizhou (N = 592; age = 10-17 years), completed questionnaires that asked about symptoms of state and trait anxiety, as well as depression and age at separation from parents. Results. Children who were separated from parents at a younger age had more symptoms of anxiety and depression. This effect was especially pronounced for children who were separated from their mothers or from both parents. Conclusions. China's explosive economic growth appears to exact a significant toll on left-behind children's mental health, particularly on children whose parents left early in their lives. The unintended consequences of the economic boom on child development need to be further examined in prospective studies. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:2049-2054. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.150474)