Urbanisation and mental health in left-behind children: systematic review and meta-analysis using resilience framework.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prolonged parental separation at young ages has significant adverse effects on development in left-behind-children (LBC). We aimed to compare mental health status, emotional and behavioural problems, and their association with socioemotional development between LBC and their counterparts.

Methods

Cross-sectional studies comparing LBC and non-LBC published from 2000 onwards were searched. Primary outcomes included depression, anxiety emotional and behavioural problems. Secondary outcomes included loneliness, self-harm, suicide, and risk-related behaviours. Quality of all included articles was assessed by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal. Data was analyzed by random model-based effect method.

Results

78 observational studies comprising of 394,

SUBMITTER: Lin K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12507658 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature