This study explores the relationship between perceived discrimination and social adaptation of migrant workers' children, as well as the mediating role of sense of alienation and the moderating role of psychological capital. A multi-stage-multi-source longitudinal study design was adopted. A total of 423 Chinese migrant workers' children (Mage = 13.36, Female ratio = 39.48%) were recruited, and sample data were collected at three time points for 6 months. The results indicated that the interpersonal alienation played a mediating role between discriminatory perception and social adaptation. Psychological capital moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and interpersonal alienation. Compared to participants with high psychological capital, interpersonal alienation played a stronger mediating role between perceived discrimination and social adaptation among those with low psychological capital. Perceived discrimination could reduce the level of social adaptation of migrant workers' children through interpersonal alienation. The social adaptation of migrant workers' children could be improved by improving the level of psychological capital.
Keywords: alienation; migrant workers' children; perceived discrimination; psychological capital; social adaptation.
© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.