Intergenerational Dependencies of Households Left Behind in the Context of International Labor Migration: Evidence from Rural Thailand

Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on Future of Social Sciences and Humanities

Year: 2026

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Intergenerational Dependencies of Households Left Behind in the Context of International Labor Migration: Evidence from Rural Thailand

Prof. Dr. Dusadee Ayuwat, Rukchanok Chumnanmak, Nattapon Meekaew, Supee Samorna, Adirek Rengmanawong, Nattawat Auraiampai, Pattarmaporn Yamsamruan

ABSTRACT:

International labour migration has significantly reshaped household structures in Thailand, often resulting in “skipped-generation households” (SGHs) comprising grandparents and grandchildren. These households depend on remittances and social support networks to sustain daily life, yet their intergenerational dynamics remain underexplored. This study investigates the intergenerational dependencies of households left behind by international labor migration, focusing on economic, social, and infrastructural dimensions. A qualitative phenomenological approach was applied at both household and community levels. Two groups were included: (1) 20 SGHs with at least one member working abroad (legally or illegally) for over one year, and (2) 19 community leaders and returnee migrants. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews for (1) and (2) respectively, conducted in rural communities, in November 2014, and analyzed using content analysis. Skipped-generation households included grandparents aged 48–87 and grandchildren aged 3–14. Eleven households had legal and eight had undocumented migrant workers, receiving monthly remittances between 150-1250 US$. Three key patterns of dependency emerged: (1) economic reliance on remittances for expenses, debt repayment, and education; (2) social reliance on relatives and community networks for childcare and livelihood support; and (3) infrastructural reliance on public facilities and natural resources. Households with only a grandmother and grandchild showed greater financial dependency due to the absence of working-age members. International migration generates complex intergenerational dependencies that shape the resilience of skipped-generation left-behind households. While remittances provide critical economic support, overreliance limits self-sufficiency. Policies promoting community-based support and welfare for skipped-generation households are essential for sustainable rural livelihoods.

Keywords: International Migration; Skipped-Generation Households; Intergenerational Dependency; Thailand; Rural Community