Kinship and problem behavior of left-behind children from the perspective of cognitive behavior therapy

Fei Xiaotong proposed a grade structure to explain that interpersonal relationships in China are self-centered and gradually move outward through kinship. As a clue to connecting a family, how does this kinship affect the growth of individuals, especially children? This study examined the roles of different kinship supports in left-behind children’s behavioral problems based on cognitive behavior therapy. According to their current family structure, the participants were divided into left-behind and non-left-behind children. Data from 852 participants indicated that for left-behind children, the support of parents and grandparents could affect internal aggression/external aggression through depression/anxiety, and the help of other relatives could also directly and positively affect external aggression, whereas for non-left-behind children, only parental support affected children’s internal aggressive behavior by affecting depression. The results revealed the internal mechanism of kinship support on children’s aggressive behavior from the perspective of cognitive behavior theory.