Care Drain and Care Chain in Thailand: The Impact of Transnational Labor Migration on Mental Health of Left-Behind Family

Due to the economic drive, especially the lack of opportunity in the origin area, many people expected that migration would improve their economic status and well-being of their family. In Thailand, working abroad in working aged group is a common situation, often resulting in a separation between migrants and their family including children. Along with the phenomenon of left-behind family due to migration of young adults, care drain and care chain issues have been mentioned, in recent decades. In addition, concerns about care in labor migration household is associated with the absence of the parents. The impact of parental migration on family left-behind can contribute to negative effects, especially on mental health of both left-behind children and remaining caregivers. In this seminar, the presenter would like to present the concept paper on the impact of labor migration on care drain and care chain situation focusing on mental health of children and carers left behind at family of origin. The study attempts to explore the situation and impact of care drain and care chain phenomenon in Thailand, to compare the mental health of children and carer between those in non-migrant households and transnational households, and to analyze the related factors associated with the metal health of child and carer who stay-behind. Suggestions and comments from attendees would be appreciated and greatly help to continually develop for future dissertation.