Table 1_Uncovering the gaps: a grounded theory approach to conceptualizing inadequate child family caregiving in China.docx

ObjectiveThis study investigates the manifestations of inadequate family caregiving for children in China and aims to construct a conceptual framework that captures the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon within a rapidly changing social context.
MethodsBased on constructivist grounded theory, in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 children and their primary family caregivers across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, selected through purposive and theoretical sampling. Through open, axial, and selective coding, this study identified and refined the core attributes, antecedents, and outcomes of inadequate family caregiving, ultimately developing a conceptual framework.
ResultsThrough the coding process, four core dimensions of caregiving insufficiencies were identified: daily living care, emotional and psychological support, safety supervision, and educational guidance. These gaps in caregiving were found to stem from a combination of internal family factors, such as unstable caregiving structures, limited parenting knowledge, low motivation, and insufficient caregiving skills, as well as external challenges, including limited family and community support and sociocultural pressures. The study found that these caregiving gaps were linked to strained parent–child relationships, delays in social and emotional development, behavioral issues, and potential risks to children’s physical health.
ConclusionInadequate family caregiving emerges from a mix of internal and external constraints that limit caregiving capacities and resource access, resulting in multidimensional caregiving deficiencies that impact children’s physical and mental health. Addressing this issue necessitates enhancing family caregiving capacities, strengthening social support networks.

研究目标：本研究旨在考察中国儿童家庭照护不足的具体表现，并构建概念框架以呈现快速变迁社会语境下该现象的多维特质。
研究方法：本研究基于建构主义扎根理论（constructivist grounded theory），采用目的抽样与理论抽样相结合的方式，选取来自不同社会经济背景的28名儿童及其主要家庭照护者开展深度访谈。通过开放式编码、主轴编码与选择性编码，本研究识别并梳理了家庭照护不足的核心属性、前因与后果，最终形成概念框架。
研究结果：通过编码流程，本研究识别出照护不足的四大核心维度：日常生活照料、情绪与心理支持、安全监管以及教育引导。研究发现，此类照护缺口源于内部家庭因素与外部挑战的共同作用：内部因素包括不稳定的照护结构、有限的育儿知识、较低的照护动机以及不足的照护技能；外部挑战则包括家庭与社区支持匮乏以及社会文化压力。此外，研究表明，这些照护缺口与紧张的亲子关系、儿童社会与情感发展迟缓、行为问题以及儿童身体健康潜在风险存在关联。
研究结论：家庭照护不足源于限制照护能力与资源获取的内外部约束共同作用，进而引发多维度的照护缺陷，对儿童的身心健康造成负面影响。解决该问题需要提升家庭照护能力并强化社会支持网络。