Contributions of family and neighbourhood factors to the mental health of migrant children in China: implications for policy and services

Abstract

Drawing upon a sample of 806 migrant children in Beijing, China, this study investigated how community social capital, family social support, family human capital and family financial capital influenced the mental health of Chinese migrant children. Using structural equation modelling with latent variables, the study results suggested that higher levels of family social support were associated with better mental health of migrant children. Family social support also mediated the effect of community social capital on children's mental health. Family human capital and family financial capital both contributed to children's mental health through their significant effects on community social capital. However, family financial capital was negatively associated with family social support, resulting in an unexpected, indirect negative effect on children's mental health. Implications of these findings for social policy and social services were discussed.

Keywords:

• community social capital
• family social support
• family human capital
• family financial capital
• mental health
• migrant children