The Study of Sibship Size and the Likelihood of Marriage Satisfaction in China

Abstract

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the national divorce rate of China has constantly climbed from 1.85 per 1000 inhabitants in 2009 to 3.36 per 1000 inhabitants in 2019 (Ma, 2020). Growing up under the one-child policy, the younger generation is vulnerable to stress and sensitive to interpersonal problems due to the lack of peer support. Furthermore, the low marriage rate reflects a lower reproduction rate and a higher divorce rate in the future, which will potentially cause social issues in China. It is necessary to consider the issue from different aspects. The study collected people's marital satisfaction in different generations under a specific one-child policy using a questionnaire. Based on the final data, the study showed that married people born before the one-child policy (1969-1979) were significantly more satisfied with their marital happiness than those born after the policy (1980-1990). It confirms that the current low fertility rate, marriage rate, and high divorce rate among young people are inextricably linked to the one-child policy that has been in place for about three decades, given China's unique cultural policies. Although the Chinese government has now officially abolished the policy in 2016, this study can still provide a new way of thinking about the development of society.