Mediational role of core self-evaluations in the relation between perceived social support and mental health among college students with migrant or left-behind experience

Objective To explore possible role of core self-evaluations in the association of perceived social support and mental health among college students with migrant or left-behind experience.Methods A total of 524 college students with left-behind experience,223 with migrant experience,182 with both left-behind and migrant experience,as well as 1 161 without migrant or left-behind experience were investigated with questionnaires on mental health,core self-evaluations and perceived social support.Results Mental health,core self-evaluations and perceived social support showed no significant differences among students with and without migrant experience (P>0.05);Mental health,core self-evaluations and perceived social support among students with left-behind experience and both left-behind and migrant experience were lower than students with migrant experience and control students (P<0.05).Mental health score,core self-evaluations and perceived social support significantly correlated with each other (P<0.01).Core self-evaluations played a mediational role in the relationship between perceived social support and mental health in all students.Conclusion Childhood left-behind experience negatively impact psychological wellbeing during early young adulthood,while no significant effects of childhood migrant experience are found in this survey.