Study title

People's Republic of China

Individual

1) Baseline questionnaire survey. This was conducted among children aged aged 8 to 15 inhabiting 20 villages in 3 counties in Zhejiang, and 20 villages in 2 counties in Guizhou. Data collection took place from May 2015 in Zhejiang and from November 2015 in Guizhou. All counties were selected for being known migrant-sending areas of the two provinces, with large numbers of left behind children (LBC living with neither parent), and SC (children living with one parent). Questionnaires, previously piloted in both provinces across the target age range, were administered among all consenting children inhabiting the 40 villages in the school setting. School attendance across all five counties to age 16 is around 98%, so schools provide a highly appropriate sampling frame. Permission was obtained from headteachers. Researchers explained the purpose of the questionnaire, what sorts of questions would be asked, and gave a number of examples before asking for consent. Signed consent forms were attached to the front of the questionnaire. The last four questions about parental migration were administered orally by researchers on an individual basis to maximise accuracy. Researchers also checked levels of completion of the questionnaires and encouraged children to fill any gaps. Data includes sociodemographic, economic, psychosocial, emotional, educational and behavioural variables, drawing considerably on the Chinese version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. 2) Post-intervention data for children in Zhejiang (n=435). This was collected in 2017 and used an abbreviated version of the baseline questionnaire. Data comprises 335 children, who had attended the Children's Centres at least 30% of the time, and 100 controls of children from the same villages who had never attended the Centres. Questionnaires were administered following consent among children in the 8 to 15 age range, (although children outside this age range did attend the Children's Centres. Data includes sociodemographic, economic, psychosocial, emotional and behavioural variables. Data were collected at the Children's Centres and in the villages for the controls.3) Post-intervention data for children in Guizhou (n=484) This was collected in 2018. Data comprises 384 children who had attended the Children's Centres at least 30% of the time, and 100 controls of children from the same villages who never attended. Administration of the questionnaires was carried-out in the same way as for Zhejiang above. Data includes sociodemographic, economic, psychosocial, emotional and behavioural variables. 4) Post-intervention interviews were recorded with children who attended the centres. These were conducted at the Children's Centres with specific consent for recording provided. The main focus was on children's opinions of the clubs, what they liked didn't like, enjoyment, whether they looked forward to them, and ideas for improvement.5) Post-intervention interviews with parents and carers of attending children with specific consent for recording provided. The focus was on informants' views of the Centres and ideas for improvement.