Grandparenting and child wellbeing in the context of labor migration in China : a mixed-methods study

Abstract

The number of children residing in grandfamilies is growing worldwide, leading to more research attention on grandparenting over the past decades. In the context of internal labor migration in China, a large percentage of children are living with their grandparents in rural hometowns, leading to more discussions on grandparents’ roles in children’s lives. However, empirical evidence of grandparenting and its impact on children’s wellbeing is mixed so far, and children’s voices are lacking in this line of research. Thus, this thesis aims (1) to synthesize global evidence on the relationship between grandparental care and child mental health outcomes, (2) to understand children’s experiences of living with their grandparents when parents are away due to labor migration in China, and (3) to establish a nuanced measurement of grandparental involvement in children’s lives from children’s perspectives. Three sub-studies are included: Study 1 is a systematic review and meta-analysis that synthesizes 38 studies of the relation between grandparental care and children’s mental health status. The meta-analysis consisted of 344,860 children from the included studies and found that children being cared for by their grandparents had worse mental health status, including more internalizing problems, externalizing problems, overall mental problems, and poorer socioemotional wellbeing. Study 2 is a qualitative study using a participatory research method of Photovoice with 30 children living with their grandparents in a major labor-sending rural area in southwest China. Visual data of 84 photos were analyzed with thematic analysis. The most prominent themes were living environments and daily routines with grandparents, followed by grandparents’ material support, time spent together, reciprocal support, and perceived cultural traditions from the grandparents. By adapting the Intergenerational Solidarity Framework in Chinese migrant families, this study illustrates the multifaceted nature of intergenerational solidarity and highlights the protective roles grandparents play in children’s lives. Study 3 is a quantitative study to construct and validate a Chinese version of the Grandparental Involvement Inventory (GII- C) in the context of labor migration in China using child-reported survey data of 775 rural Chinese children. The results support the structural validity of a three-factor 17-item GII-C that includes Company and Shared Activities, Mentorship and Instrumental Assistance, and Intimacy and Closeness. The findings suggest the GII-C as a valid tool to measure grandparents’ multi-faceted roles beyond childcare. In summary, this thesis is one of the first to adapt the Intergenerational Solidarity Framework in the context of internal labor migration in China. The findings suggest that future research should include more grandparental demographic information and family background to further examine intergenerational relationships within grandfamilies. Additionally, a strength-based and child-centered approach should be employed in future research to explore the positive aspects of intergenerational solidarity. On a practical level, the findings call for strength-based practice and the development of nuanced measurement tools to assess intergenerational relationships. It also highlights the potential for implementing service programs specifically designed for rural grandfamilies. In terms of policy implications, this thesis suggests more nationwide mental health interventions for children who receive grandparental care and the need to support custodial grandparents.