Family Miniaturization and Its Influencing Factors in Urban China

Abstract

Urban families in mainland China trend compressed and diversified in transitional period. With the development of economy, urbanization, and cultural diversification, the graying of Chinese society, is markedly increasing, during the transitional period. Using box plot to show the change of Chinese family. The results show that: (a) the family structure change reflected that family with high population size and high intergenerational level turn to family with small population size and simple intergenerational level, with time, (b) Social security and employment, urbanization level, the proportion of the third industry, gross regional production (GDP), natural population growth rate, and minimum life security are notable factors of family miniaturization. The research on the temporal and spatial variation and influencing factors of urban families’ structure in mainland China is meaningful to well-being of urban residents, and sustainable development of the community.