Measuring the sense of security of children left behind in China

• Chuanjing Liao

  Southwest University and Wenzhou University

• Yu Hu

  Wenzhou University

• Jinfu Zhang

  Southwest University

Our primary purpose in this study was to determine the structure of sense of security of children left behind in China, and to develop and validate a suitable measure for this. Participants were 1,836 pupils at rural Chinese schools, 100 of whom completed open surveys and semistructured interviews, 289 of whom completed the preliminary survey, and 1,447 of whom completed the final survey. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 5-factor solution, comprising 26 items that explained 56.08% of the variance. A confirmatory factor analysis replicated the initial factor structure, indicating satisfactory goodness-of-fit and internal consistency. The reliability and validity of the resulting Questionnaire of Sense of Security for Children Left Behind has considerable potential for use in the context of rural China for research about children who have been left behind.

1. Chuanjing Liao, Southwest University and Wenzhou University
   The Research Institute for Education and Psychology of Southwestern Ethnic Groups, and College of Teacher Education
2. Yu Hu, Wenzhou University

   College of Teacher Education

3. Jinfu Zhang, Southwest University
   The Research Institute for Education and Psychology of Southwestern Ethnic Groups

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