MIGRAŢIA, FORMĂ DE NEGLIJARE A COPILULUI
Migration, form of neglecting children

Summary/Abstract: Regarding the geographic location, data shows that the regions most affected by the migration phenomenon are Western Romania (Banat, Crisana, Maramures), where 27% of the gymnasium students (classes V to VIII) have at least one parent abroad, and Moldova, where the percentage is 25%. Most migrant parents are in Italy: 55% of the migrant mothers of the respondent children and 40% of the fathers. The study shows that the parents’ migration for work has both positive and negative effects on children left back home. Also, 34% of the children with both parents working abroad have traveled outside Romania, in comparison with just 14% of the children from non-migrant families; moreover, 20% of children with both parents working abroad have spent their 2006 summer holidays abroad with their parents. Among the negative effects it is interesting to mention that in some cases the fact that one parent left to work abroad has determined a deterioration of the child’s relationship with the parent who remained at home to raise him. Other negative effects are to be found on the psychological level. The field data confirms the existence of a significant association between the absence of both parents or just of the mother and the frequency of depression symptoms in children. In conclusion, children whose parents are working abroad should be considered at risk. That would be a first recommendation to children protection authorities, who should find solutions to strengthen the relations between school and the social services system. It is important that the crisis of school psychologists, especially from rural areas, is solved (at this moment just 38% of the gymnasium schools in Romania have a psychologist on their payroll to offer counseling to children). At the same time, a set of social services should be put in place for children whose parents are temporarily abroad.

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