Interpersonal Relationships in Migrant Worker Families: An Integrated Psychological, Legal, and Pedagogical Model
Abstract
Parental labor migration affects the socio-psychological development of children in a holistic sense emphasizing emotional, social adjustment and stability of the family unit. The precise effects of parental absence on psychological outcomes have received little attention in Uzbekistan despite the existence of community mechanisms like the mahalla system. This study explores the socio-psychological effects of parental labor migration on school-age children and seeks to shed light on the effectiveness of institutionalized support programs. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used, involving 150 children (95 from high-migration regional areas and 55 from Tashkent). Quantitative data were collected using René–Gilles test on emotional and social adaptation, while qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with children and families and expert questionnaires for professionals. There is a heightened emotional-social inadaptation among children of migrants, with 60% classified as moderate-to-high emotional risk. Institutional support was varying between regions, and it did not include rural areas in most cases. Qualitative data suggested inadequacies with family reintegration efforts and erratic professional intervention efforts. Findings underscore the need for structured socio-psychological support programs tailored to children affected by parental migration. There is proposed a scalable model that combines diagnostic assessment, targeted family interventions, and institutional reintegration programs to monitor the well-being of children on a systemic level, as well as to enhance family support systems in urban and regional settings.