The Relationship Between Economic Pressure, Emotional Neglect and Anxiety Among Chinese Left-Behind Children: Based on Response Surface Analysis

Based on the cumulative risk model and cognitive appraisal theory, this study examined the complex relationships between economic pressure, emotional neglect, and anxiety among left-behind children (LBC), focusing on the mediating role of perceived discrimination and nonlinear risk patterns. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 618 LBC (aged 11–16 years) using standardized scales. Polynomial regression combined with Response Surface Analysis (RSA) was utilized to analyze congruence and incongruence effects. The results revealed that under congruent conditions, the association of economic pressure and emotional neglect with anxiety showed a marginally significant nonlinear accelerating trend, whereas their prediction of perceived discrimination followed a linear trend. Under incongruent conditions, emotional neglect demonstrated a stronger independent predictive effect on anxiety compared to economic pressure. Furthermore, perceived discrimination partially mediated the relationships between these risk factors and anxiety. These findings validate the cumulative risk model within the LBC context, demonstrating that risk factors operate in complex, non-additive ways. This highlights the necessity for differentiated interventions and suggests that reshaping LBC’s subjective cognitive appraisals is key to reducing anxiety.