The relationship between cumulative family risk and depression in left-behind children: a moderated mediation model

This study proposed a moderated mediation model to examine the mediating role of core self-evaluation in the relationship between cumulative family risk and depression among left-behind children, and whether this process was moderated by school climate.

A total of 415 rural left-behind children from 35 townships in Anhui Province (54.46% males; mean age = 12.53, SD = 2.27) were randomly conducted in June 2023 using convenience sampling. Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS 3.3.

After controlling for gender, age, grade, and left-behind type, cumulative family risk positively predicted depression in left-behind children (β = 0.18, p < 0.001). Core self-evaluation fully mediated the relationship between cumulative family risk and depression in left-behind children (indirect effect = 0.10, 95%CI = [0.06, 0.15]). Moreover, school climate moderated the relationship between cumulative family risk and core self-evaluation (the first half of the mediation pathway) (β =-0.13, p < 0.01). Specifically, as the school climate level increased, cumulative family risk became more predictive of core self-evaluation (B_low = − 0.001, p > 0.05; B_high = − 0.26, p < 0.001).

Creating a favourable family and school climate and improving core self-evaluation are beneficial to reduce depression in left behind children.