The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital in the Relationship between Insecure Attachment and Subjective Well-being of Chinese Left-behind Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/jssh.2024.6(09).18Keywords:
Left-behind children, Insecure attachment, Subjective well-being, Psychological capital, Mental healthAbstract
The rising number of left-behind children in China, particularly in rural areas, underscores the urgent need to understand the complex interplay between insecure attachment and subjective well-being among this vulnerable population. The absence of one or both parents during their developmental years exposes these children to unique familial dynamics, contributing to unmet emotional needs and compromised parent-child relationships. Insecure attachment patterns often emerge as a consequence, further exacerbating the risk of mental health challenges. This study employs regression analysis and difference analysis to investigate the relationship between insecure attachment and subjective well-being among left-behind children, with psychological capital as a mediating variable. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying these associations, this research aims to inform targeted intervention strategies tailored to the needs of left-behind children.
The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of subjective well-being in this population, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive interventions that address social, emotional, and psychological needs within familial and peer contexts. By fostering supportive relationships, enhancing emotional resilience, and promoting positive coping strategies, interventions can mitigate the adverse effects of parental migration on the well-being of left-behind children. While this study contributes valuable insights, future research should consider incorporating mixed-method approaches to capture the nuanced experiences and perceptions of left-behind children, thereby enhancing the validity and comprehensiveness of findings.
References
Adshead, G. (2016). Making minds more secure: Remembering Gill McGauley. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 30(4), 298-299. https://doi.org/10. 1080 /02668734.2016.1250205
Bernard, H. (2019). How insecure attachment predisposes us to anger arousal. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/overcoming-destructive-anger/201911/how-insecure-attachment-predisposes-us-anger-arousal
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss. Basic Books. https://www.google.co.ke/books/edition/Attachment_and_Loss/FYEuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Bowlby (accessed May 23, 2024).
Bretherton, I., & Munholland, K. A. (2008). Internal working models in attachment relationships: Elaborating a central construct in attachment theory.
Chen, Y. L., Zhang, X., & Chen, J. (2016). Cognitive neural characteristics of the emotion regulation strategies in different attachment styles. Journal of Psychological Science, 39(1), 109. http://www.psysci. org/EN/abstract/abstract9605.shtml (accessed May 23, 2024).
Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55(1), 34.
Dykas, M. J., & Cassidy, J. (2011). Attachment and the processing of social information across the life span: Theory and evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 137(1), 19-46. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021367
Fan, F. (2008). A preliminary study on the psychosocial factors of anxiety/depression and psychological resilience development program for left-behind children [Doctoral dissertation, Central South University].
Hao, X. (2023). Research on family education and development of rural left-behind children. Journal of Jinyang. https://doi.org/10.16392/j.cnki.14-1057/c.2023. 05.003
Hao, X., & Cui, Y. (2007). Discussion on the definition criteria of left-behind children. China Youth Studies. https://doi.org/10.19633/j.cnki.11-2579/d.2007.10.012
Hou, J., Liu, Y., Qu, Y., & Jiang, W. (2014). The effects of staying behind on social adjustment of rural children and adolescents: A comparative analysis of propensity value matching. https://doi.org/10.16187/j.cnki. issn1001-4918.2014.06.011
Joplin, J. R. W., Nelson, D. L., & Quick, J. C. (1999). Attachment behavior and health: Relationships at work and home. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 20(6), 783-796. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1379 (199911)20:6%3C783::aid-job923%3E3.0.co;2-p
Luthans, F., Avolio, B. J., Avey, J. B., & Norman, S. M. (2007). Positive psychological capital: Measurement and relationship with performance and satisfaction. Personnel Psychology, 60(3), 541-572. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2007.00083.x
Mcleod, S. (2024, January 17). Attachment theory in psychology. Simply Psychology. https://www. simplypsychology.org/attachment.html
Pace, U., & Zappulla, C. (2011). Problem behaviors in adolescence: The opposite role played by insecure attachment and commitment strength. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(6), 854-862. https://doi.org/10. 1007/s10826-011-9453-4
Raissifar, K., & Reza, M. (2020). Psychological capital: The role of attachment (Case study: Tehran Children’s Hospital). International Journal of Management Studies, 13(1), 95-115. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijms.2019. 111414.671561
Sadeghi, A. R., Ebadi, M., Shams, F., & Jangjoo, S. (2022). Human-built environment interactions: The relationship between subjective well-being and perceived neighborhood environment characteristics. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41598-022-25414-9
Scott, S., Briskman, J., Woolgar, M., Humayun, S., & O’Connor, T. G. (2011). Attachment in adolescence: Overlap with parenting and unique prediction of behavioural adjustment. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52(10), 1052-1062. https://doi.org/10. 1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02453.x
Shi, L., Jiang, X., & Fan, F. (2023). Longitudinal mediation of left-behind children's psychological resilience between insecure attachment and mental health problems: A follow-up study. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, (06), 1375-1379. https://doi.org/10. 16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2023.06.016
Song, H., & Mao, X. (2012). Revision and reliability test of the psychological capital scale in a college student population. Statistics and Decision Making, (21), 106-109. https://doi.org/10.13546/j.cnki.tjyjc.2012.21. 017
Sroufe, L. A. (2005). Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. Attachment & Human Development, 7(4), 349-367. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730500365928
UOPositivePsych. (2024). UOPositivePsych. https:// uopositivepsych.org/positive-psychology (accessed May 24, 2024).
West, M., Rose, S., Spreng, S., & Adam, K. (2000). The Adolescent Unresolved Attachment Questionnaire: The assessment of perceptions of parental abdication of caregiving behavior. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 161(4), 493-503.
Wong, P. T. P., & Wong, L. C. J. (Eds.). (2006). Handbook of multicultural perspectives on stress and coping. Boston, MA: Springer US. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/b137168
Wright, T. A. (2003). Positive organizational behavior: An idea whose time has truly come. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24(4), 437-442. https://doi. org/10.1002/job.197
You, J., Song, X., Tan, J., Du, Y., & Kung, W. (2020). Adult attachment and subthreshold depression in medical school students: The mediating role of self-esteem. https://doi.org/10.13342/j.cnki.cjhp. 2020.08.022
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Borui Yang, Daixu Ma, Huaying Liu
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
