Parents` migration : impacts on self-esteem and well-being of left-behind junior high school children in Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

In Indonesia, the trend of out-migration continues to increase every year. The opportunities in getting better jobs and better pay to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life are the primary reasons for this phenomenon. However, migration also cost migrants gravely because their immediate family i.e. children and spouse are left behind. Studies worldwide have shown the negative impacts of migration on self-esteem and well-being of left-behind children. However, the orientation of those studies has not been focusing on impacts towards Aceh migrants and their family members who are left behind. This study therefore is undertaken to cover this knowledge gap. The aim of this study is threefold. Firstly, it is to investigate the level of self-esteem and well-being of left-behind children. Secondly, it is to identify the level of self-esteem and well-being based on gender and age and lastly, to find out the relationship between self-esteem and well-being of the affected children. This study produces the results of a survey of 108 junior high school students who are being left-behind by labour migrant parents to Malaysia. Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE) scale, SLCS (Self-Liking Competence Scale) were used in measuring self-esteem while Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) was used in assessing well-being of the students aged 13, 14, and 15 years old. The initial finding demonstrates that “home alone” children in Aceh have low level self-esteem and well-being; they tend to feel unworthy and more likely to be depressed. The impact of migration was not significantly different based on gender but it was by age of the children. The older children tend to have lower self-esteem than the younger ones. Essentially, the overriding findings indicate that there is in fact a positive significant relationship between self-esteem and well-being of left-behind children of Aceh, Indonesia.