Parental Labor Migration and Adolescents' Transition to High School in Rural China

Abstract

Over the past few decades, internal labor migration has transformed family structure and life in China. Millions of rural children grow up in the absence of parents who have migrated for work. This thesis examines how parental migration affects adolescents? transition from middle to high school, a crucial step for rural adolescents that can greatly influence their life chances. The data collection was carried out for about one year between 2012 and 2013 in a migrant-sending county located in Hubei province, central China. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, I show that, on balance, there is an overall negative effect of parental migration on adolescents? educational wellbeing. In contrast to the conventional explanations of economic resources, psychological health, caregiver involvement, this thesis emphasizes the significant role of marital instability in the link between parental migration and children?s educational wellbeing. The findings on the effects of gender and school on educational outcomes are also discussed.