Subjective Well-Being among "Left-Behind Children" Of Labour Migrant Parents in Rural Northern Vietnam

Studies worldwide have shown that, besides positive economic and social impacts, labour migrant parents also cause negative effects to the well-being of those they leave behind, especially children. However, this study orientation has not generated significant interest in Vietnam. This article indicates the results of a survey on 469 left-behind children of labour migrant parents in rural areas by comparing them with a control group of 650 children living with their parents in three rural areas of North Vietnam including Phu Tho, Bac Ninh, and Ha Nam provinces. The Keyes's Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) was used for this study. It is shown that children whose parents work away from home have lower subjective well-being than those living with their parents; children with migrant mothers or with both migrant parents also achieve lower scores of subjective well-being than those with migrant fathers. Factors such as a child's self-assessment of his or her academic and life success and the relationship between the child and his or her migrant parents have significant influence to the child's subjective well-being.