Probit Model Based Research on the Influence of Social Capital to Psychological Capital of Children from Single Parent Families: : Empirical Analysis based on CHARLS Data of China

Abstract

By using STATA software, Probit modeling is applied to explore the influence of social capital on psychological capital of children from single parent families in China. Based on CHARLS dataset, 552 single parent families and 1,140 families in Shandong Province is studied. Based on social capital theory, three hypothesis are developed and STATA software is applied to test the hypothesis by Probit modeling method. The model results show how different dimensions of social capital affect the psychological capital of children from single parent family. It is found that children from single parent families are more likely to be bullied at school and have less happiness in school. Compared with the two-parent family, the social capital of children from single parent family is significantly lower in terms of family, peer, school and community levels. In single parent families, peer and community social capital have more significant effect on school happiness than family social capital; family, school, peer and community social capital have significant effect on school happiness in two-parent family. Although the difference of family structure has no significant effect on the psychological capital of children in Shandong Province, the enhancement of social capital level in different dimensions still has a significant effect on the improvement of children’s sense of happiness in school. Based on Probit modeling, this study is of great significance for the construction of education network and social support system for children from single parent families through improving different social capital.