The Relationship among Loneliness, Emotional Flexibility and Resilience in Left-behind Children: A Longitudinal Study

Parental migration has been found to affect left-behind children (LBC) more negatively than positively on their mental health, leaving them with higher levels of loneliness. Previous studies also found that individuals' resilience and emotional flexibility would shelter them from such adversities and foster adaptations. The present study conducted a three-wave longitudinal survey to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by LBC, as well as the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships among their loneliness, emotional flexibility and resilience. In total, 516 LBC (Mean age = 13.24 years, SD = 1.48 years, and 51.87% boys), living in Jiangsu Province of China, completed a survey, including the Chinese version of Children's Loneliness Scale (CLS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Emotional Flexibility Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Cross-lagged analyses indicated that LBC's emotional flexibility and resilience were not the predictor of loneliness at the subsequent time point. LBC's loneliness was a negative and stable predictor of resilience at the subsequent time point, and emotional flexibility was a positive and stable predictor. Moreover, T1 resilience was a positive predictor of T2 emotional flexibility. Overall, this study suggested that interventions in promoting resilience should prioritize enhancing their emotional flexibility, which would help relieve their loneliness and protect their mental health. Left-behind children's loneliness longitudinally and negatively predict their resilience, while resilience could not predict loneliness conversely.Left-behind children's emotional flexibility longitudinally and positively predict their resilience, and resilience at T1 positively predict emotional flexibility at T2.The impact of being left behind on children does not only cause feelings of loneliness, but also affects their resilience in facing future challenges. To protect long-term health and development, it is essential to enhance their emotional flexibility in order to reduce negative psychological effects.