Associations between parent-child attachment and psychotic-like experiences among adolescents in rural China: The moderating role of parental migration.

BACKGROUND

Poor parent-child attachment has been associated with an increased risk of psychological problems. This study examined the relationship between parent-child attachment and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) among adolescents in rural China, with particular attention to those affected by parental migration.

METHODS

A total of 4209 rural adolescents were recruited via an online survey. Participants completed the 15-item positive subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15), Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) and a self-developed demographic questionnaire. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the associations between parental migration, parent-child attachment, and PLEs.

RESULTS

Left-behind children (LBC) exhibited higher PLE frequency and distress, alongside lower parent-child attachment, compared to their non-LBC counterparts. After adjusting for confounders, both mother-child and father-child attachment showed negative correlations with PLE frequency and distress. Notably, the association between mother-child attachment and PLE frequency varied by parental migration status: the negative correlation between mother-child attachment and PLE frequency was weaker among LBC compared with non-LBC.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents experiencing parental migration represent a key subpopulation for future PLE prevention and intervention efforts. Mother-child attachment should be prioritized as a critical component in developing effective prevention strategies, particularly for LBC.