Open Access

ARTICLE

Psychological Capital Status of Left-Behind Rural Children in China and Its Relationship with Mental Health

Yujia Ren^*, Menglong Li, Hua Sun
Physical Education Institute, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, 410205, China
* Corresponding Author: Yujia Ren. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2021, 23(3), 375-384. https://doi.org/10.32604/IJMHP.2021.014335

Received 28 September 2020; Accepted 24 December 2020; Issue published 23 July 2021

Abstract

Background: The mental health of left-behind rural children of China has become a prominent social problem. At the same time, psychological capital has become a positive psychological resource to promote personal growth. However, the relationship between psychological capital and mental health of left-behind rural children has not been explored. Method: A total of 332 left-behind rural children were investigated using a questionnaire of psychological capital and mental health scale. The psychological capital status of left-behind rural children and its impact on mental health were analyzed. Results: (1) Left-behind rural children were found to have a psychological capital score of was 3.16 ± 0.56; Gender, age, grade, and school style had no significant effect on psychological capital. (2) Left-behind rural children obtained a mental health score of 2.21 ± 0.5 G and gender, age, grade, and school style had no significant effect on mental health. (3) A significant negative correlation is found between psychological capital and mental health scores of left-behind rural children. Regression analysis shows that psychological capital is negatively correlated with mental health scores. Conclusion: The psychological capital of left-behind rural children can positively predict their mental health, and thus developing the former can promote the latter.

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Keywords

Left-behind rural children in China; psychological capital; mental health

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