Exploring how middle east parental migration affect the social and emotional wellbeing of children aged 6-17 years of Ntinda Parish in Kampala, Uganda
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Date
2026-05-14
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This study explored how parental migration to the Middle East affects the social and emotional wellbeing of children left behind in the care of relatives or guardians in Ntinda Parish. The study was guided by three objectives, which are to explore the lived experiences of children left behind, to examine the effects of parental migration on their social well-being, and to assess its influence on their emotional experiences. The study was anchored in Attachment Theory and adopted a phenomenological qualitative research design. The study involved 15 children and 15 caretakers/guardians, all selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using interviews and analyzed thematically, with findings presented verbatim. The findings reveal that children left behind experience profound emotional disruption characterized by loneliness, anxiety, sadness, and feelings of abandonment, largely due to weakened parent–child attachment and irregular communication. Socially, parental migration affects children’s relationships, school participation, and peer interactions, often resulting in withdrawal, reduced confidence, and strained social adjustment. Furthermore, the findings reveal that while caregivers provide basic needs, they often fail to offer consistent emotional support and parental warmth. However, some children demonstrate resilience by adapting through peer support and coping strategies. Overall, the study concludes that parental migration extends beyond economic benefits to significantly reshaping children’s social relationships, emotional stability, and sense of belonging. The study recommends that migrant parents need to maintain consistent and meaningful communication with their children through regular phone or video calls that go beyond financial updates to include emotional support, active listening, and involvement in children’s daily lives and decisions, so as to strengthen attachment and reduce feelings of loneliness and insecurity. It further recommends that families and caregivers strengthen substitute caregiving arrangements by preparing and supporting caregivers before migration, while schools enhance counseling and psychosocial support services to help children manage emotional distress and improve social adjustment. In addition, government and child welfare stakeholders should develop and strengthen policies addressing the emotional and social effects of parental migration, including pre-departure training for migrant parents, expansion of community-based support systems, and child protection programs to promote resilience and safeguard the wellbeing of children left behind.
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Undergraduate