Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis
Background: Previous work has shown that children ‘left-behind’ as a consequence of parental migration experience worse outcomes, although the majority of this evidence focuses on short- rather than long-term effects. Methods: Using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey cohort...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Migration and Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000078 |
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| author | Natalia Norori Lucy Barrass Maria Theresa Redaniel Nanette R. Lee Laura D. Howe Duleeka Knipe |
| author_facet | Natalia Norori Lucy Barrass Maria Theresa Redaniel Nanette R. Lee Laura D. Howe Duleeka Knipe |
| author_sort | Natalia Norori |
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| description | Background: Previous work has shown that children ‘left-behind’ as a consequence of parental migration experience worse outcomes, although the majority of this evidence focuses on short- rather than long-term effects. Methods: Using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey cohort (n = 1651), we assessed the association of paternal emigration (identified based on evidence of remittances sent back by mother's spouse) during childhood with the mental health and educational attainment at age 18 of Filipino children, adjusted for sex, socioeconomic position and paternal education. We explored whether timing of emigration, and household composition modified associations observed. Findings: Children who had migrant fathers were found to be 1.24 times more likely to have high educational attainment at age 18 than children who did not have migrant fathers, although the association was imprecise (95 % confidence intervals: 0.83-1.85). We found no statistical evidence of a difference between children who experienced paternal migration compared to those who did not in terms of depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation at age 18. There was evidence that experiencing paternal migration in older childhood (≥10 years) was associated with better mental health. We found evidence that household composition modified associations for depressive symptoms. Interpretation: This study does not suggest a detrimental long-term impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind, either for educational attainment or mental health. This may reflect beneficial effects of paternal migration and/or pre-existing socioeconomic and health differences amongst families who do and do not experience paternal migration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-793afd1afcfc452089d97f03ed84389a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-6235 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Journal of Migration and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-793afd1afcfc452089d97f03ed84389a2025-01-29T05:02:14ZengElsevierJournal of Migration and Health2666-62352025-01-0111100308Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysisNatalia Norori0Lucy Barrass1Maria Theresa Redaniel2Nanette R. Lee3Laura D. Howe4Duleeka Knipe5Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; Corresponding author.Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; NIHR ARC West, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKUSC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc., University of San Carlos, Cebu City, PhilippinesPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UKPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK; South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri LankaBackground: Previous work has shown that children ‘left-behind’ as a consequence of parental migration experience worse outcomes, although the majority of this evidence focuses on short- rather than long-term effects. Methods: Using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey cohort (n = 1651), we assessed the association of paternal emigration (identified based on evidence of remittances sent back by mother's spouse) during childhood with the mental health and educational attainment at age 18 of Filipino children, adjusted for sex, socioeconomic position and paternal education. We explored whether timing of emigration, and household composition modified associations observed. Findings: Children who had migrant fathers were found to be 1.24 times more likely to have high educational attainment at age 18 than children who did not have migrant fathers, although the association was imprecise (95 % confidence intervals: 0.83-1.85). We found no statistical evidence of a difference between children who experienced paternal migration compared to those who did not in terms of depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation at age 18. There was evidence that experiencing paternal migration in older childhood (≥10 years) was associated with better mental health. We found evidence that household composition modified associations for depressive symptoms. Interpretation: This study does not suggest a detrimental long-term impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind, either for educational attainment or mental health. This may reflect beneficial effects of paternal migration and/or pre-existing socioeconomic and health differences amongst families who do and do not experience paternal migration.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000078MigrationMental healthEducationDeterminants of health |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Norori Lucy Barrass Maria Theresa Redaniel Nanette R. Lee Laura D. Howe Duleeka Knipe Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis Journal of Migration and Health Migration Mental health Education Determinants of health |
| title | Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis |
| title_full | Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis |
| title_short | Assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children ‘left-behind’—A cohort analysis |
| title_sort | assessing the impact of paternal emigration on children left behind a cohort analysis |
| topic | Migration Mental health Education Determinants of health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666623525000078 |
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