Parental Migration and Left‐Behind Children's Health‐Seeking Behaviours: Evidence From Rural China

ABSTRACT Despite increasing research on the physical development and nutritional outcomes of left‐behind children (LBC) in the context of parental migration, limited attention has been paid to their health‐seeking behaviours. This study examines the association between parental migration and LBC's engagement with healthcare services in rural China. Drawing on five waves (2010–2018) of longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we analyse a sample of 1238 children aged 0–14. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach, results show that parental migration is associated with an 8.03% increase in the probability of doctor visits and a 4.03% increase in the probability of hospitalization. Heterogeneity analyses further reveal that left‐behind boys are more likely than girls to engage in health‐seeking behaviours and that access to clean energy and tap water is linked to reduced hospitalization among LBC. Additionally, higher coverage of medical institutions and insurance is associated with increased healthcare utilization. These findings highlight the importance of addressing gender disparities, improving household infrastructure and enhancing community‐level health service support to support the well‐being of LBC.