Caretaker perceptions of the effects of parental migration on left-behind children in rural Kyrgyzstan

This study examines how caretakers perceive the effects of parental migration on left-behind children in Kyrgyzstan. Drawing from interviews with 33 caretakers in southern Kyrgyzstan, this study examines the “impossible” dilemma of parental labour migration and its effects on the children that are left behind. We find that parental migration is perceived to impact children in five main ways: financial, migration ambitions, educational, behavioural, and emotional. We find the financial benefits from migration are perceived to improve children’s economic conditions, but parental absence can also lead to negative behavioural and emotional outcomes. This study contributes to literature on left-behind children through a qualitative analysis of caretakers’ perceptions and the community’s lived experiences. Findings can inform policies and initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of children and supporting economies in high out-migration communities.