The relationship between emotional resilience and anxiety and depression in children who migrate with their families: the moderating role of mindfulness
Xiaoshuo Zhang, Yaping Shuai, Yuzheng Wang, Jinyan Wang, Fei Luo
BMC Psychology February 22, 2026 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-04051-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 695 |
| Population | Children aged 8–15 years in China, comprising 396 local children and 299 migrant children |
| Measures | GAD-7, PHQ-9 |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Emotional resilience Migrant children |
| Key findings | Migrant children reported higher rates and total scores of anxiety and depression than local children, while local children showed slightly higher emotional resilience; mindfulness did not differ between groups. Mindfulness was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression and positively correlated with emotional resilience, and moderated the relationship between emotional resilience and anxiety/depression, suggesting it mitigated the impact of low emotional resilience. |
Abstract
Abstract Background Migrant children often experience greater anxiety and depression than their local peers due to challenges in adapting to urban life. Emotional resilience and mindfulness may serve as protective factors for mental health, but their influence on migrant children’s emotional well-being is not well understood. This study explored differences in anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and emotional resilience between migrant and local children and examined whether mindfulness moderates the relationship between emotional resilience and anxiety/depression.
Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 695 children (aged 8–15 years; 396 local and 299 migrant). Participants completed standardized questionnaires measuring mindfulness, anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and emotional resilience. Group differences were analyzed with chi-square tests (for anxiety/depression prevalence) and t-tests (for mean scores), and Pearson correlations were calculated for continuous variables. A moderated regression analysis (Hayes’s PROCESS macro) was performed to test the effect of mindfulness in moderating the relationship between emotional resilience and anxiety/depression.
Results: The results indicated that migrant children had higher rates and total scores of anxiety and depression compared to local children, while local children demonstrated slightly higher emotional resilience. No significant difference in mindfulness levels was found between the groups. Mindfulness was significantly negatively correlated with anxiety and depression and positively correlated with emotional resilience. Moreover, mindfulness moderated the relationship between emotional resilience and anxiety or depression, suggesting it consistently mitigated the negative impact of low emotional resilience.
Conclusion: These findings emphasize the critical role of mindfulness in supporting the mental health of children, particularly those from migrant backgrounds.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
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- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- School-Based Mindfulness Instruction: An RCT Pediatrics December 19, 2015
- The relationship between trait mindfulness and resilience: A meta-analysis. Personality and mental health March 23, 2023
- The role of mindfulness in positive reappraisal. Explore 2009