Attachment Security as Moderator of Perceived Discrimination on Behavioral Outcomes among Chinese Migrant Children

• In Event: 3-114 - Family Dynamics and Adolescents’ Socioemotional Adjustment Across Cultural Contexts

Integrative Statement

In 2017, there were approximately 287 million rural-to-urban migrant workers in China (China Labour Bulletin, 2018), making it one of the largest internal migration in human history. Children of migrant families leave behind their extended families and friends in the countryside and face unique challenges in the cities (Zhai, 2008). For example, due to hukou regulations, migrant children enjoy fewer rights and privileges compared to their local counterparts. They have limited access to mainstream public-school education and face restrictions in participating in extra-curricular activities and receiving awards. They also face discrimination from school teachers, administrators, and local parents who express biases toward their migrant status and academic ability. Indeed, migrant children have reported having the least amount of confidence in their futures compared to rural and urban intact children (Chen, Yang, & Ren, 2015).

To understand more about the factors related to the adjustment of these migrant children, the first aim of the study was to examine the effect of perceived discrimination on these children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. The second aim of the study was to identify protective factors that might buffer the negative effects of perceived discrimination on child behaviors. We specifically examined the role of attachment security, which refers to a child’s perception of trust, safety, and security in the bond they have with their attachment figures. Attachment security has been found to be associated with higher levels of self-esteem and problem-solving skills (e.g., Raikes & Thompson, 2008). This study examined three types of attachment security: child-mother, child-father, and child-peer and their relations to child behavior problems. Furthermore, we examined the extent to which attachment security might moderate the negative effect of perceived discrimination.

The sample included 179 Chinese migrant children in Beijing (Age M = 11.48, SD = 1.12). Participants were 50.84% male and 49.16% female. The majority were of Han ethnicity (95.5%). Approximately a quarter of participants (25.7%) were born in Beijing. Data were collected from two migrant schools in Beijing with the assistance of the school administrators.

In terms of study findings, perceived discrimination was associated with increased internalizing and externalizing behavior problems among migrant children (see Table 1). All three types of attachment bonds were negatively associated with behavior problems. Additional analyses indicated that child-father attachment significantly moderated the relation between perceived discrimination and child behavior problems (Internalizing: β = -.19, p < .01; ΔR 2 = .03, p < .01; Externalizing: β = -.23, p < .01; ΔR 2 = .05, p < .01). Specifically, perceived discrimination was associated with increased child behavior problems when the child reported low levels of attachment with their fathers; the relations were non-significant when they reported high levels of attachment (see Figures 1 and 2). Child-mother and child-peer attachment did not emerge as moderators.

Overall, the findings provide some evidence of the unique contribution of child-father attachment to child socioemotional development and protection against behavior problems. Fathers may play a prominent role in providing security in novel, challenging, and potentially risky situations for migrant children.

Authors

• Ruizhe Song, Fuller Theological Seminary
  Presenting Author

• Joey Fung, Fuller Theological Seminary
  Non-Presenting Author

• Maria S Wong, Stevenson University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ping Yao, Peking University
  Non-Presenting Author