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Table 8 Comparison between depressive symptoms of LBCF, LBCM and LBCB at different levels of left-behind-related variables (N = 4181)

From: Depressive symptoms and negative life events: What psycho-social factors protect or harm left-behind children in China?

Independent variables

LBCF (n = 1000)

LBCM (n = 202)

LBCB (n = 2979)

Fa

Partial η 2

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Duration of separation

 (1) 6 months - 2 years

13.20(5.84)

14.32(5.59)

14.55(6.48)

8.32***

0.009

 (2) 2–3 years

14.38(6.62)

13.93(5.97)

15.32(6.54)

1.49

0.004

 (3) 4–5 years

12.70(6.32)

14.48(6.03)

14.44(6.27)

1.97

0.009

 (4) Over 6 years

14.36(7.12)

13.81(6.03)

14.16(6.30)

0.18

0.000

Fa

0.46

1.29

4.29

  

Partial η 2

0.002

0.026

0.004

  

Com. duration

 (1) Within 5 min

14.44(6.15)

13.43(5.43)

16.37(6.75)

10.60***

0.027

 (2) 5–10 min

13.66(6.33)

14.56(6.58)

14.56(6.35)

2.39

0.004

 (3) 10–30 min

12.54(6.08)

14.74(5.69)

14.06(6.29)

7.19**

0.008

 (4) Over 30 min

12.55(5.94)

12.53(4.73)

14.25(6.29)

3.57*

0.014

Fa

3.69*

1.73

4.20**

  

Partial η 2

0.012

0.035

0.004

  

Com. frequency

 (1) Daily

11.63(5.74)

13.60(5.75)

13.33(5.96)

4.49*

0.019

 (2) Weekly

13.33(6.15)

13.67(5.69)

14.31(6.33)

3.85

0.003

 (3) Monthly

13.74(6.47)

14.47(6.11)

14.92(6.74)

2.00

0.005

 (4) Half a year

15.08(5.84)

17.31(4.59)

16.24(6.38)

1.37

0.009

 (5) Over half a year

16.42(6.01)

15.67(6.31)

16.38(6.54)

0.26

0.003

Fa

3.58**

1.35

3.98**

  

Partial η 2

0.007

0.037

0.003

  

Com. by visiting

 (1) Yes

15.88(7.52)

13.26(7.05)

14.31(6.41)

1.52

0.020

 (2) No

13.42(6.15)

14.28(5.79)

14.54(6.42)

  

tb

2.25*

−0.73

−0.38

  

r

0.18

−0.08

−0.02

  

Com. on academic performance

 (1) Yes

13.10(5.98)

13.88(6.16)

14.05(6.17)

3.85*

0.003

 (2) No

14.04 (6.47)

14.49(5.40)

15.40(6.73)

  

tb

−2.36*

−0.75

−5.58***

  

r

−0.08

−0.05

−0.10

  

Com. on learning difficulties

 (1) Yes

13.52(6.40)

14.82(5.27)

14.98(6.56)

1.68

0.005

 (2) No

13.50(6.19)

14.08(5.88)

14.44(6.38)

  

tb

0.04

0.63

1.74

  

r

0.00

0.07

0.04

  

Com. on children’s feelings

 (1) Yes

12.77(6.01)

12.84(5.46)

14.09(6.55)

5.30**

0.006

 (2) No

13.81(6.27)

15.24(5.85)

14.86(6.30)

  

tb

−2.42*

−2.98

−3.28**

  

r

−0.08

−0.21

−0.06

  
  1. Note: The dependent variable was depressive symptom
  2. LBCF children left behind by father, LBCM children left behind by mother, LBCB children left behind by both parents. M mean, SD standard deviation, Com. communication between migrant parents and left-behind children
  3. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001
  4. a F value was from ANOVA results
  5. bt value was from independent T-test result
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BMC Psychiatry

ISSN: 1471-244X

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