Location and Provision of Support from Migrants to Left-behind Parents in Rural Cambodia
Issued Date
2022-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
01693816
eISSN
15730719
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85123115836
Pubmed ID
35031901
Journal Title
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
Volume
37
Issue
1
Start Page
23
End Page
43
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Vol.37 No.1 (2022) , 23-43
Suggested Citation
Zimmer Z., Penboon B., Jampaklay A. Location and Provision of Support from Migrants to Left-behind Parents in Rural Cambodia. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology Vol.37 No.1 (2022) , 23-43. 43. doi:10.1007/s10823-021-09447-7 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/86087
Title
Location and Provision of Support from Migrants to Left-behind Parents in Rural Cambodia
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Cambodia is a country where labor migration has been consistently high, particularly out of rural areas. Migration increases the distance between parents and their children, which may lead to a reduction in sources of support. Based on these contemporary realities, it is important to understand the factors that impact provision of support from migrants to their parents. This study examines determinants of support provision, with a focus on migrant location. Based on family solidarity and altruism theories, other factors were considered that indicate migrant’s ability to provide, the degree of parental vulnerability and degree of interaction. We hypothesized that the likelihood of migrant support provision to left-behind parents related to their location, ability to provide and needs of the household. Data were sourced from the 2011 Cambodian Rural Urban Migration Project (CRUMP) (N = 3700). In bivariate analysis, 77% of both international and rural to urban internal migrants provide monetary support. Rural to urban internal migrants are most likely, and international migrants least likely, to be providing instrumental support. When examining fully adjusted models, it is rural to urban internal migrants that are the most likely to provide both monetary and instrumental support. Both types of support are more likely to be provided by female migrants and to households headed by females. Results show that left-behind parents are not completely unsupported in rural Cambodia, but support provision may be impacted by other determinants. This study provides baseline information for policy makers to design suitable policies that may optimize the positive impact of migration for migrants and left-behind parents.