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Development of psychological resilience and associations with emotional and behavioral health among preschool left-behind children

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the development of psychological resilience and its associations with emotional and behavioral health among preschool left-behind children (LBC).

Methods

LBC in 26 preschools of Fuyang City, Hefei City, and Maanshan City of Anhui Province were included at baseline survey; and baseline children in the junior and middle classes of preschools as targeted samples were recruited for the 1-year follow-up. Multivariable linear regression models were performed to examine associations of psychological resilience with emotional and behavioral health.

Results

In total, 1463 LBC were included at baseline and 568 of the 905 targeted LBC completed the 1-year follow-up. Change patterns of psychological resilience were identified as the stable-high pattern (19.0%), increasing pattern (18.3%), declining pattern (15.9%), and stable-low pattern (46.8%). The results showed that psychological resilience at baseline was positively associated with later dietary behavior habits and prosocial behaviors, and negatively associated with later problematic behaviors and sleep problems. In addition, children with the declining pattern had more problematic behaviors and sleep problems, and fewer prosocial behaviors at follow-up. Children with the increasing pattern and stable-high pattern had more prosocial behaviors, better dietary behavior habits, and fewer problematic behaviors and sleep problems at follow-up.

Conclusions

The majority of preschool LBC had lower psychological resilience and its level among some LBC changed during the follow-up. Higher psychological resilience was a protective factor for emotional and behavioral health. Timely assessing psychological resilience and then strengthening it are needed to promote the emotional and behavioral health of preschool LBC.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the efforts of the research team, the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention and all kindergartens, and all the children and families who participated in this research.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81872704).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China

    Xiuxiu Ding, Mingming Liang, Qiuxia Song, Wanying Su, Ning Li, Haixia Liu, Yile Wu, Xianwei Guo, Hao Wang & Yehuan Sun

  2. Department of Neonatology, Anhui Provincial Children’s Hospital, Hefei, 230051, Anhui, China

    Jian Zhang

  3. Ma’anshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 243011, Ma’anshan, Anhui, China

    Qirong Qin

  4. Fuyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuyang, 236030, Anhui, China

    Liang Sun

  5. Changfeng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changfeng, 231100, Anhui, China

    Mingchun Chen

Authors
  1. Xiuxiu Ding
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  2. Mingming Liang
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  12. Liang Sun
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  14. Yehuan Sun
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Contributions

The author XD designed this study and wrote the manuscript. Authors ML, QS, WS, NL, HL, YW, GQ, XG, HW, JZ, QQ, LS and MC recruited the participants, administered the assessment and undertook data collation and analysis. The author YS guided and revised the writing. All authors listed have read the final manuscript and approved it for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yehuan Sun.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethical approval

This study protocol was approved by Ethics Committee of Anhui Medical University.

Consent to participate

All the participants and their caregivers were informed, and signed the informed consent.

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Ding, X., Liang, M., Song, Q. et al. Development of psychological resilience and associations with emotional and behavioral health among preschool left-behind children. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 58, 467–476 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02325-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02325-8

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