Social anxiety and gratitude among children left behind due to migration in western rural China.

This study investigates the correlation between social anxiety and levels of gratitude among children left behind due to migration, referred to as "left-behind children" (n = 961), residing in rural areas of Western China, in comparison with children not affected by such circumstances, known as "non-left-behind children" (n = 446). The outcomes indicate a significant negative correlation between social anxiety and gratitude (R = - 0.15 for non-left-behind children, R = - 0.31 for left-behind children), suggesting that children left behind exhibit diminished levels of gratitude and heightened levels of social anxiety, a phenomenon substantiated by the present study. Drawing upon Fredrickson's theory and attachment theory, it is advised that psychological challenges faced by children left behind be mitigated through parental cohabitation and gratitude-inducing interventions. Additionally, it is recommended that gratitude education be integrated into the school curriculum to prevent the onset of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The insights gleaned from this study also offer valuable considerations for children from families where parents are excessively occupied with work or are preoccupied with their mobile devices.