The Psychological Dynamics of Future Hope for Children of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstract
Malaysia is the main destination country for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), with around 450,000 PMI recorded in 2024. Many migrant workers bring their children to live in the destination country. Although Law No. 6 of 2012 has regulated the rights of migrant workers' children, in reality many children have difficulty accessing education and health services due to limited information. This study aims to explore the psychological dynamics of children of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia. This study uses a qualitative phenomenology design approach. This study involved three informants of migrant worker children aged 12-18 years who live with their parents in Malaysia. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. The results of the study show that migrant workers' children face various challenges in achieving their future, thus forming the development of psychological dynamics. The psychological dynamics of future hopes for migrant workers' children are not formed singly, but through a complex process and mutual influence or reciprocity between personal, environmental and behavior taken. This research is expected to provide deeper insight into the psychological conditions of migrant workers' children, as well as provide policy recommendations to support their welfare, especially in terms of education and access to other basic services.
References
Abdullah, S. M. (2019). Social Cognitive Theory : A Bandura Thought Review published in 1982-2012. PSIKODIMENSIA, 18(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.24167/psidim.v18i1.1708
Adiputra, S. (2015). Penggunaan Teknik Modeling Terhadap Perencanaan Karir Siswa. In Jurnal Fokus Konseling (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Adristi, S. P. (2021). Peran Orang Tua pada Anak dari Latar Belakang Keluarga Broken Home (Vol. 1, Issue 2). https://journal.imadiklus.or.id/index.php/lej
Alesya Rosiyadi, N., & Herdiana, I. (2022). Hubungan antara Social Support dan Subjective Well-being Pada Anak Pekerja Migran. http://e-journal.unair.ac.id/index.php/BRPKM
Ariani, R., & Saadah, N. (2025). The basics of brain development. Jurnal Dinamika Pendidikan Nusantara, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-010-9148-4
Auliya, N. P. D., & Setiyowati, N. (2024). Systematic Literature Review Based on Big Data: Dukungan Sosial dan Psychological Well-Being pada Remaja. Psyche 165 Journal, 134–139. https://doi.org/10.35134/jpsy165.v17i2.367
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action : A social cognitive theory. Prentice Hall.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self Efficacy : The exercise of control. Freeman.
Cortes, P. (2015). The Feminization of International Migration and its Effects on the Children Left Behind: Evidence from the Philippines. World Development, 65, 62–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.10.021
Diorarta, R. (2020). Tugas Perkembangan Remaja Dengan Dukungan Keluarga: Studi Kasus. Carolus Journal of Nursing, 2(2). http://ejournal.stik-sintcarolus.ac.id/
Fellmeth, G., Rose-Clarke, K., Zhao, C., Busert, L. K., Zheng, Y., Massazza, A., Sonmez, H., Eder, B., Blewitt, A., Lertgrai, W., Orcutt, M., Ricci, K., Mohamed-Ahmed, O., Burns, R., Knipe, D., Hargreaves, S., Hesketh, T., Opondo, C., & Devakumar, D. (2018). Health impacts of parental migration on left-behind children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 392(10164), 2567–2582. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32558-3
Gan, Z., Liu, F., & Nang, H. (2023). The Role of Self-Efficacy, Task Value, and Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations in Students’ Feedback Engagement in English Learning. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13050428
Hanurawan, F. (2016). Metode Riset Kualitatif Untuk Ilmu Psikologi. PT. Raja Grafindo Persada.
Hendrisman. (n.d.). Learning Discipline And Student Ethics On Learning Outcomes. https://doi.org/10.24036/kolokium.v12i1.861
Herdian, H., & Listiana, A. (2024). 39+hERDI+626-636. Aulad : Journal on Early Childhood, 7, 626–636. DOI: 10.31004/aulad.v7i2.649
Indahyati, L. N., & Setiyowati, N. (2025). Resilience of Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Children in Malaysia. KOLOKIUM Jurnal Pendidikan Luar Sekolah, 13(1), 126–141. https://doi.org/10.24036/kolokium.v13i1.1065
Jannah, D. S. M., & Setiyowati, N. (2024). Mindfulness and Anxiety in Adolescents: Systematic Literature Review Based on Big Data. Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.51214/00202406835000
Lia Mutiara, I., Boli Lasan, B., & Artikel Abstrak, I. (2020). Studi Kasus Kebiasaan Belajar dan Self Management pada Anak Pekerja Migran. http://journal.um.ac.id/index.php/jptpp/
Murni, S., Zahra Bulantika, S., Puspita Sari, R., Afifah, A., & Fitri, G. (2023). The Relationship Of Students’ Social Interaction With Students’ Learning Interest. KOLOKIUM Jurnal Pendidikan Luar Sekolah, 11(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.24036/kolokium.v11i1.574
Nurhidayati, T., Rahayu, D. A., & Mubin, M. F. (2015). Family Roles in Parenting of International Migrant Workers.
Pancawardana, H., Imam Al Ayyubi, I., Rohmatulloh, R., Siliwangi, I., Tinggi Agama Islam Darul Falah, S., & Barat, B. (n.d.). The Influence Of Nonformal Education On Students’ Cognitive Formation. https://doi.org/10.24036/kolokium.v11i2.613
Pemerintah Indonesia. (2014). UU Nomor 35 Tahun 2014. Tambahan Lembaran RI.
Prameswari, F. H. K., & Nurchayati. (2021). Dinamika Psikologis Remaja Perempuan Korban Kekerasan Dalam Pacaran Yang Memilih Mempertahankan Hubungan Pacarannya. Character Jurnal Penelitian Psikologi, 8, 204–2017. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26740/cjpp.v8i7.42609
Putri, L. D., & Stianda, V. (2024). Analysis of The Influence of The Family Support System on Adolescent Behavior. KOLOKIUM Jurnal Pendidikan Luar Sekolah, 12(1), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.24036/kolokium.v12i1.840
Reflina, O. :, Tetap, D., Pendidikan, J., Fitk, M., Medan, U.-S., Williem, J., Pasar, I., & Medan, V. (2018). KAITAN PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS MASALAH DENGAN KEMAMPUAN SELF-EFFICACY SISWA.
Ren, Q., & Treiman, D. J. (2016). The consequences of parental labor migration in China for children’s emotional wellbeing. Social Science Research, 58, 46–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.03.003
Rosiyadi, N., & Herdiana, I. (2022). Hubungan antara Social Support dan Subjective Well-being Pada Anak Pekerja Migran. http://e-journal.unair.ac.id/index.php/BRPKM
Santrock, & John W. (2012). Life Span Development. Erlangga.
Sholina, C. A. (2022). Pemenuhan Hak-Hak Asasi Anak Tenaga Kerja Indonesia Di Perkebunan Sawit Di Wilayah Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia. Jurnal Pembangunan Manusia, 3(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.7454/jpm.v3i1.1029
Sukatin, S., Chofifah, N., Turiyana, T., Paradise, M. R., Azkia, M., & Ummah, S. N. (2020). Analisis Perkembangan Emosi Anak Usia Dini. Golden Age: Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, 5(2), 77–90. https://doi.org/10.14421/jga.2020.52-05
Tarumasely, Y. (2021). Pengaruh Self Regulated Learning Dan Self Efficacy Terhadap Prestasi Akademik Mahasiswa. JPE (Jurnal Pendidikan Edutama, 8(1). http://ejurnal.ikippgribojonegoro.ac.id/index.php/JPE
Wang, F., Zhou, X., & Hesketh, T. (2017). Psychological adjustment and behaviours in children of migrant workers in China. Child: Care, Health and Development, 43(6), 884–890. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12499
Wickramage, K., Siriwardhana, C., Vidanapathirana, P., Weerawarna, S., Jayasekara, B., Pannala, G., Adikari, A., Jayaweera, K., Peiris, S., Siribaddana, S., & Sumathipala, A. (2015). Risk of mental health and nutritional problems for left-behind children of international labor migrants. BMC Psychiatry, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0412-2
Widyarto, W. G., & Rifauddin, M. (2020). Problematika Anak Pekerja Migran di Tulungagung dalam Perspektif Bimbingan dan Konseling. Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan Dan Konseling, 5(3), 91–103. https://doi.org/10.17977/um001v5i32020p091
Wirangga Shakti, T., & Hardjati, S. (2024). Upaya Pengenalan Pancasila Kepada Anak-Anak Pekerja Migran Indonesia Di Malaysia Dalam Rangka Menanamkan Sikap Nasionalisme Dan Toleransi Efforts To Introduce Pancasila To The Children Of Indonesian Migrant Workers In Malaysia In Order To Encourage An Attitude Of Nationalism And Tolerance. Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 2(3).
Wu, H., Cai, Z., Yan, Q., Yu, Y., & Yu, N. N. (2021). The impact of childhood left-behind experience on the mental health of late adolescents: Evidence from chinese college freshmen. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052778
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24036/kolokium.v13i2.1159
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
 
