Exploring the Impact of Parental Absence on Parent-Child Relationships of Left-Behind Preschool Children in Rural China Through Family Dynamics Drawing Test

This study aimed to investigate the status and main factors of parent-child relationship among rural preschool left-behind children in China. Data were 436 children, aged 4–6 years, randomly selected from 15 kindergartens. Guided by the theme "My Story with Mum and Dad", participants were instructed to complete Kinetic Family Drawings (KFD). This study used a mixed-methods approach, which integrated standardized questionnaires, behavioral assessments, and a systematic analysis of drawing indicators (e.g., the sequence of characters and symbolic elements). The analysis revealed that left-behind children demonstrated significantly lower scores in parent-child relationship quality than non-left-behind children ( t = -12.379, p  = 0.001). The results showed that: (1) prolonged parental absence can have a serious impact on the parent-child relationship; (2) mothers are the most important family members in a child’s life; (3) left-behind children demonstrate a paradoxical psychological response to father absence, manifesting both defensive avoidance and underlying longing for paternal connection.; (4) left-behind children lack the care and attention they deserve.