First-born Child’s Attitude Towards Potential Siblings Under the “Selective Two-Child Policy” in China

Abstract

With the implementation of the ”selective two-child policy” which was released by the Chinese government, some couples with one child are planning to have the second child. The present study intends to investigate the first-born child’s attitude towards potential siblings as well as the factors that influence his/her attitude. With interviews and painting analysis of children from middle classes and senior classes of kindergarten, this study explore their attitudes to potential siblings and its influencing factors from the perspective of child. The interpretations of the influencing factors of their attitudes are beneficial for offering strategies for their role transformation. Intervention strategies for the well-being of first-born child were discussed.