Loneliness status and associated factors among rural left-behind children in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective: Toinvestigate the loneliness status among rural left-behind children (RLBC) in China and examine the significant predictors of loneliness, which might provide practical intervention measures for the schools. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to February 2022 using the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Children’s Loneliness Scale(CLS), Social Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC), Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale(SES) and Piers-Harris Child Self-concept Scale (PHCSS) to assess the status of, and factors associated with the loneliness of RLBC. Using ratios to describe the data, Chi-square test was used to compare the level of loneliness of RLBC between groups. Associations between different factors and the CLS were examined using Pearson analysis. The main factors that were most predictive of the loneliness were identified by multiple linear regressions. Results: The detection rate of loneliness among RLBC was 66.26%(n=538). Chi-suqare test results show that grade, age, parental migration status, parental separation duration, type of caregivers and contact frequency with parents on different levels of loneliness of RLBC(P<0.05). The correlation analysis indicated that CLS is positively correlated with parental migration status, parental separation duration, contact frequency with parents, average annual household income, SASC and two domains(P<0.05). It is negatively correlated with grade, age, SES, PHCSS and six domains(P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that grade, age, parental migration status, parental separation duration, contact frequency with parents, SASC, FEA, FRE, POP among the variables were major factors affecting loneliness of RLBC(all P<0.05). Conclusions: The detection rate of loneliness among RLBC in China is high. Grade, age, parental migration status, parental separation duration, contact frequency with parents, social anxiety, self-esteem and self-concept were the main factors affecting the loneliness level of RLBC.