Parental Migration and Fear of Crime Among Left-Behind Children in Rural China

Utilizing a probability sample of 1,985 middle school students from Guizhou Province, China, this study aims to explore the association between different patterns of parental migration and fear of crime among adolescents in rural China. Nested OLS regression analyses revealed that compared to adolescents who live with both parents, adolescents experiencing dual-parent migration reported a heightened fear of crime. However, adolescents with only their mother or father migrating did not exhibit any difference in fear of crime compared to those who lived with their parents. Being female, younger, having experienced crime victimization, perceiving greater family economic pressure, and perceiving greater neighborhood disorder and weaker collective efficacy also elevated crime fear. Findings from this study highlight the acute vulnerability of adolescents experiencing dual-parent migration and urge more targeted social support for this group.