Teacher-child relationships, self-concept, resilience, and social withdrawal among Chinese left-behind children: a moderated mediation model

This study aims to examine the mediating and moderating roles of self-concept and resilience in the relationship between teacher-child relationships and social withdrawal with a sample of 380 Chinese left-behind children in a rural region in Guangdong Province, China. They were measured by using Children's Social Behavioral Scale-Teacher Form, Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschool (DECA-P2), Children's Self-Concept Scale, and Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS). The results indicated that: (1) Teacher-child relationships, resilience and self-concept are all negatively correlated to social withdrawal; (2) resilience plays a mediating role between the teacher-child relationships and social withdrawal; (3) self-concept moderates the effect of teacher-child relationships on resilience. This study would enhance the early childhood teachers’ understanding of the key factors that affect children's social behaviours, and thus implement appropriate strategies for supporting left-behind children. It confirms the significant role of teachers in left-behind children's development, which has implications for policymakers to prioritize teachers’ quality and training in rural preschools.