Family migration and youth psychosocial development: An ecological perspective

Abstract

Urbanization has prompted worldwide family migration. This study examines the psychosocial impact of rural-to-urban migration on youth in China, a fast-urbanizing country with 268 million rural migrant workers and 103 million migrant youth. Using data from 2012 China Family Panel Studies (n = 2084, age 10–15), this study examines psychosocial disparities (depressive symptoms, social relationships, and future aspirations) among youth migrated with parents, youth left behind by migrant parents, and their peers. The results show that rural-to-urban migration appears to benefit youth psychosocially, but the benefits are clearly limited. Migration is associated with fewer depressive symptoms, but it does not improve youth social relationships or future aspirations. Being female, parent-child conflicts, and living in West China also impose psychosocial risks. While China’s urbanization has created socioeconomic inequalities that curtail youth psychosocial development, this study calls for more sustainable urbanization approaches to address the status quo’s failings.