Parental Migration and the Well-Being of Children in Ghana, Nigeria, and Angola

Studies on children ‘left-behind’ indicate that children suffer psychologically from parental migration. Yet, most of these studies are case studies with no comparison group, leaving open the question whether the findings relate particularly to transnational families. Also, most studies target Latin America or Asia. The literature identifies important factors for children’s well-being: which parent migrates, length of separation, networks of family support and school systems. This study investigates children’s well-being through a cross-national survey conducted in 3 African countries in 2010-11 (Ghana N=2,760; Angola N=2,243; Nigeria N=2,168). It compares children in transnational families with those living with their parents in the country of origin. As such it further tests findings from previous qualitative studies and adds the case of African transnational families to the literature. Children’s well-being is measured through the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results show that children experience greater psychological difficulties when mothers or both parents have migrated, live with non-kin, change caregiver often, and have their migrant parent(s) away internationally. Negative well-being is further associated with low economic conditions and divorced or separated families that children are in.