One-child Family Research Articles

The midlife health of only children: chronic disease indicators and biomarkers by sibship size in three nationally representative UK cohorts.

Despite persistent concerns about only children's disadvantage relative to individuals with siblings, existing health-related evidence is inconsistent. Recent evidence from Nordic countries about only children having poorer health outcomes may not apply elsewhere because selection processes differ across contexts. We investigate the midlife health of only children in the UK where one-child families tend to be socio-economically advantaged relative to large families. Using the 1946, 1958 and 1970 British birth cohort studies, we examine various biomarkers and self-reported measures of chronic disease by sibship size when respondents are aged in their mid-40s, mid-50s and mid-60s. We estimate separate linear probability models for each cohort, age and outcome, adjusting for childhood and early adulthood circumstances. We found no evidence of only children differing from those with one, two or three or more siblings, at any age, in any of the cohorts, on: heart problems, hypertension, high triglycerides, high glycated haemoglobin or high C-reactive protein. However, compared with only children, the probability for cancer (0.019, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.002, 0.035; age 46/1970) and poor general health (0.060, CI: 0.015, 0.127; age 55/1958; and 0.110, CI: 0.052, 0.168; age 63/1946) was higher among those with three or more siblings. There is no consistent pattern of only child health disadvantage for midlife chronic disease outcomes across ages or cohorts in the UK. Research should focus on better understanding how sibship size differentials are contingent on context.

The Difference of Parental Investment Model Between Multi-child Family and One-child Family

This study compared the parental investment patterns of multi-child families and single-child families. Through comparative analysis of the two family types, it is found that they have some differences in parental investment behavior. The results show that families with many children pay more attention to the cultivation of parent-child relationship, while families with only one child pay more attention to the cultivation of individual ability and independence. The research also found that the two kinds of families have differences in education investment, time investment and emotional investment, and different family types have their own characteristics and advantages in parental investment. These findings have important implications for understanding the differences in parental investment between different family types.

Gender Perceptions in Multi-child Families: The Structure of Family Affecting Gender Stereotypes among Chinese College Students

This paper focuses on gender stereotypes in Chinese multi-child and one-child families to examine whether siblings influence gender stereotypes in College students. In this work, 141 questionnaires (M = 67, F = 74) on gender stereotype representations were collected. The t-test was used to detect gender stereotypes between groups from different families. This study demonstrates that large families influence gender stereotypes among college students, with females from large families showing significantly different feedback on gender stereotypes than males with siblings. Due to son preference, more resources for survival and education in the family will be invested in boys, which implies injustice and oppression of girls. China has already enacted the three-child policy, and the impact of gender inequality ideology on children's gender stereotypes in multi-child families, as reflected in this study, has theoretical value for the future promotion of gender equality education in Chinese families.

Mental health among school children and adolescents in China: A comparison of one-child and multiple-children families from a nationwide survey

The influence of China’s “one-child” policy on the mental health of children and adolescents is still unclear. This study examined the associations between number of children and children’s mental health using data from the national school children and adolescents survey of China. Mental health was measured using the Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between number of children per family and children’s mental health. A total of 64,017 students were enrolled, with 68.60 % from one-child families. Compared with children from one-child families, those from multiple-children families had significantly higher scores on the total CBLC and each of its subscales (all P<0.001). Analyses suggested children from multiple-child families have a higher risk of mental health problems (total problems on the CBCL: adjusted B=2.217, 95 %CI=1.883–2.550, P<0.001). Regular mental health assessments should be implemented and effective interventions should be developed for those in need.

Grandparental childcare and maternal labor supply in Chinese families with young children: Evidence from the China Family Panel Studies

With the implementation of the three-child policy and delayed retirement policy, the conflicts between childcare responsibility and mothers’ labor supply in China have increased dramatically. The present study utilized data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies to investigate the impacts of grandparental childcare on the labor supply of mothers with children aged 0–6 years. The results of the Probit model and Tobit model indicated that grandparental childcare could significantly increase mother’s labor force participation rate and extend their weekly working hours. The relation of grandparental childcare to mothers’ labor force participation in one-child families was stronger compared with multi-child families. However, its relation to mothers’ working hours in one-child families was smaller than that in multi-child families. Furthermore, the effect of grandparental childcare on mothers’ labor supply was more pronounced when children were younger, particularly for those with children aged 0–2 years. The findings highlight the important role of grandparental childcare and have several implications for family support policies.

The network structures of mental and behavioral problems among children and adolescents in China using propensity score matching: A comparison between one-child and multi-child families based on a nationwide survey

BackgroundExploring networks of mental and behavioral problems in children and adolescents may identify differences between one-child and multi-child families. This study compared the network structures of mental and behavioral problems in children and adolescents in one-child families versus multi-child families based on a nationwide survey. MethodsPropensity score matching (PSM) was used to match children and adolescents from one-child families with those from multi-child families. Mental and behavioral problems were assessed using the Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) with eight syndromal subscales. In the network analysis, strength centrality index was used to estimate central symptoms, and case-dropping bootstrap method was used to assess network stability. ResultsThe study included 39,648 children and adolescents (19,824 from one-child families and 19,824 from multi-child families). Children and adolescents from multi-child families exhibited different network structure and higher global strength compared to those from one-child families. In one-child families, the most central symptoms were “Social problems”, “Anxious/depressed” and “Withdrawn/depressed”, while in multi-child families, the most central symptoms were “Social problems”, “Rule-breaking behavior” and “Anxious/depressed”. ConclusionDifferences in mental and behavioral problems among children and adolescents between one-child and multi-child families were found. To address these problems, interventions targeting “Social problems” and “Anxious/depressed” symptoms should be developed for children and adolescents in both one-child and multi-child families, while other interventions targeting “Withdrawn/depressed” and “Rule-breaking behavior” symptoms could be useful for those in one-child and multi-child families, respectively.

Family poverty and adolescents’ cognitive and noncognitive outcomes: Evidence from China

Using data from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) during the 2013–2014 academic year, this paper examines the effects of family poverty on adolescents’ cognitive and noncognitive outcomes. We find that family poverty is detrimental to adolescent development. Children from poor families have poorer academic performance and noncognitive abilities. We also find that the negative effects of family poverty are more pronounced among children with urban hukou, boys, and children from one-child families. Furthermore, we find that there are multiple channels behind the estimated effects, including parental educational expectations, parental education investments, and parent-child relationship. This paper opens up the “black box” of family poverty affecting children’s development, which can provide reference for governments to design measures aimed at eliminating poverty trap.

The Relationship of Parent-Child Technoference and Child Problematic Smartphone Use: The Roles of Parent-Child Relationship, Negative Parenting Styles, and Children's Gender.

With the increasing ubiquity of smartphones in our daily lives, technoference has emerged as a novel threat to family relationships and child development. This study explored the impact of parent-child technoference on child problematic smartphone use and its underlying mechanism and potential gender difference among children. The participants were 3032 fourth-grade students (42.6% female; 80.6% one-child families; 32.9% lower income level families, 33.3% middle income level families; Mage = 10.59 years, SD=0.32) from 535 primary schools. Students in the target classes were invited to participate anonymously in the questionnaire survey in classrooms. Then, SPSS, AMOS and other software were used to analyze the data. 1) Parent-child technoference, negative parenting styles and child problematic smartphone use were positively correlated with each other, while they were negatively correlated with parent-child relationship; 2) Parent-child technoference can not only directly and positively predict child problematic smartphone use, but also indirectly and positively predict child problematic smartphone use through parent-child relationship and negative parenting styles respectively; 3) Parent-child relationship and negative parenting styles play a chain mediating role between parent-child technoference and child problematic smartphone use; 4) There are significant gender differences in the chain mediation model. The results showed that parent-child technoference significantly affected child problematic smartphone use through a chain mediation of parent-child relationship and negative parenting styles. Gender differences were observed, with girls experiencing a more pronounced disruption in the parent-child relationship, while boys were more likely to develop problematic smartphone use. In cases of strained parent-child relationships due to technoference, girls also tended to perceive more negative parenting styles. These findings promote parents' understanding of the influencing factors and mechanisms of child problematic smartphone use, especially helpful for follow-up measures to prevent and intervene child problematic smartphone use from the perspective of families and parents.

Parental stress, coercive and encouraging parenting among Chinese one-child, two-child and three-child families

Due to changes in family planning policy, families with multiple children are re-emerging in China. This article looked at parental stress and parenting practices in Chinese families with one child, two children and three children, and explored to what extent, controlling for socioeconomic factors, the number of children and parenting practices influenced parental stress. Using a sample from southern China, we measured parental stress and parenting practices among parents who have at least one child in primary school. Results showed that having multiple children increased parental pressure, and this was partially caused by a change in parenting practices: compared with their counterparts with only one child, parents with multiple children tended to use less positive encouragement but more coercive parenting. Findings suggested that in the context of low fertility, ‘parenting’ is more important than ‘fertility’. Effective parenting practices help reduce pressure, which in turn reduce a family’s fear of childbearing.

How Do Older Parents With One Child Live? The Well-Being of Chinese Elders Affected by the One-Child Policy

China’s One-Child per couple policy (OCP) has created a generation of one-child families, and these parents are now getting old. How do they live? This study examined the well-being of this cohort with four indicators: subjective (life satisfaction), mental (depression), physical (health), and psychological well-being (positive psychological functioning). Data were collected from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), and parents aged 60 and above were included. We examined the well-being of one-child older adults compared with those having multiple children across age groups and investigated the effects of children support and rural-urban difference. Compared with those with multiple children, one-child older adults were not at a disadvantage. They were significantly better in mental and physical well-being, with no difference in subjective or psychological well-being. One-child parents had a more stable pattern of subjective and mental well-being across age groups (60–64, 65–69, 70+). Among the three types of support, emotional support significantly predicted psychological well-being. Furthermore, urban older adults, of whom the majority were one-child parents, valued much more emotional support than their peers in rural areas. The findings suggest that the generation of Chinese older adults affected by the OCP live fairly well, and the parental status may shift older adults’ focus on filial piety expectations.

Parental financial support for housing: the importance of investment homes and family size

Purpose Homeownership for younger generations is exacerbated by the deterioration in affordability worldwide. As a result, the role of parental support in facilitating homeownership requires attention. This study aims to assess the influence of parental wealth and housing tenure as support mechanisms to facilitate homeownership for their children. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data from a representative survey of the New Zealand population. Findings Parents who are homeowners tend to offer more financial support to their children than those who rent. Additionally, the financial support increases when parents have investment housing as well. The results further reveal differences in financial support when considering one-child and multi-child families. The intergenerational transmission of wealth inequality appears to be more noticeable in multi-child families, where parental housing tenure plays a dominant role in determining the level of financial support provided to offspring. Originality/value The insights gained serve as a basis for refining housing policies to better account for these family transfers and promote equitable access to homeownership.

Research on old-age security of parents of one-child families in China in the new era

Research on old-age security of parents of one-child families in China in the new era

Effectiveness of Educational Package to Facilitate and Promote Child Social Development in One-Child Families Based on Erickson Theory

Effectiveness of Educational Package to Facilitate and Promote Child Social Development in One-Child Families Based on Erickson Theory

Body politics, reproductive rights, and digital media advocacy within stigmatized contexts: a critical discourse analysis of Weibo discussions on IUDs in modern-day China

ABSTRACT This article explores prevalent beliefs surrounding the use of IUDs among Chinese women and how such discourses intersect with issues of gender, culture, and politics. Incorporating a critical health communication perspective and the framework of body politics, we conducted a critical discourse analysis of 420 Weibo posts discussing IUDs. We investigated the nuanced ways in which Chinese women reflect upon, resist, and redefine prevailing stigmatizing narratives regarding women’s reproductive health and contraception, which often overshadow discussions on medical risks and women’s autonomy in fertility choices. The analysis reveals that contemporary women’s online discourses resist traditional gender roles and historical glorification of one-child families by empathizing with their mothers and reconstructing the collective memory of China’s family planning era. Simultaneously, their narratives reinforce the national policy of promoting childbirth and patriarchal discipline by highlighting proactive IUD removal to enable pregnancy and fostering competition among women, without interrogating the underlying structural issues.

Effect of dietary patterns on dental caries among 12–15 years-old adolescents: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundSeveral factors can influence the risk of dental caries, among which dietary factors have a significance impact on the occurrence of dental caries. The limitation of current studies is that they only focus on the influence of individual foods on the risk of dental caries. This study use cluster analysis to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and dental caries experience among adolescents aged 12–15.MethodsBased on data from the first oral epidemic survey in Shanxi Province, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 11,351 adolescents aged 12–15 in Shanxi Province through oral examination and questionnaires. The questionnaire included the intake frequency of seven types of food. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyze the association between dietary patterns and dental caries experience.ResultsThe prevalence rate of caries was 44.57% and the mean DMFT score was 0.98 ± 1.49 in adolescents aged 12–15 in Shanxi Province. The caries rate was higher in females than males (X2 = 103.59, P < 0.001). Adolescents who grow up in one-child families have a lower caries risk than those who grow up in families with more than one child (OR:0.91; 95%CI:0.84–0.97). The dietary patterns of adolescents aged 12–15 can be divided into eight types, among which refreshments-rich diet (OR:1.47; 95%CI,1.22–1.77) can increase the risk of caries, while the coarse-grains-rich dietery pattern (OR:0.90; 95%CI, 0.79–0.97) has a lower caries risk.ConclusionsSocial determinants of health such as sex, family size and dietary patterns influence the risk of dental caries. Certain dietary patterns could increase or decrease the risk of caries. The government, school canteens and news media should take dietary pattern factors seriously.

Will reducing the burden of extracurricular tutoring raise fertility willingness in China? Five policy suggestions

The average education expenditure of each child accounts for more than half of the family's per capita income in China and has held back the fertility intentions. Will the decree on unloading the burden of extracurricular tutoring raise future fertility willingness in China? Using China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) cross-sectional data in 2018, we simulate the effects of reduction in extracurricular tutoring hours and expenses on fertility behavior. The results reveal that extracurricular tutoring explains low fertility rate in China. The mothers in the one-child families are less likely to have a second birth due to participation in job markets and threshold in their career. The willingness of giving birth to a second child is remarkably increased along with the reduction in extracurricular training activities, especially for urbans. Reduction in tutoring expenditure plays a bigger role in adults' second-child desire than do tutoring hours.

Family Dynamics and Functioning of Adolescents from Two-Child and One-Child Families in China.

To promote the balanced development with the population, China has phased out a one-child policy in 2016, and a two-child policy was launched, which has led to dramatic changes in family structure. The transition could be a huge challenge for adolescents who are in a period of psychological vulnerability. This study explored the differences and predictors of family dynamics and functioning between two-child and one-child families in the context of China's two-child policy. We used the Self-rating scale of Systemic Family Dynamics (SSFD) and Family Assessment Device-General Functioning (FAD-GF) to investigate the family dynamics, family functioning, and family structure and status of 3289 adolescents under the background of China's two-child policy. Results revealed that the mean scores for family atmosphere, personalization, disease concept, overall family dynamics, and family functioning health rate of the one-child families were higher than those of the two-child families. Parental marital status, mother's education, annual household income, and family economic satisfaction in two-child and one-child families was positively correlated with family dynamics and functioning, but not significantly associated with living style, parental age and employment. Family financial satisfaction, parental marital status, and distress in the family were predictors of family dynamics and functioning, and parental preference was also an important factor in two-child families. The findings suggest family atmosphere, personality, disease concept, family dynamics, and family functioning of the one-child families were better than those of the two-child families. Unlike one-child families, parental preference is an important predictor of family dynamics and functioning in two child families. This study increases our understanding of adolescents psychological problems during family structure transitions under the background of fertility policy, providing psychologists with more evidence-based evidence and intervention directions.

Risk factors for the development of postpartum depression in individuals who screened positive for antenatal depression

BackgroundWomen with antenatal depression often have a higher risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD) after delivery. A number of factors associated with the PDD in those previously reporting antenatal depression have been suggested, but further research is needed. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with developing subsequent postnatal depression in women who had screened positive for antenatal depression.MethodsThis study was carried out in Hangzhou women’s Hospital. 578 women who experienced antenatal depression from this cohort were enrolled in this study. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the participants were collected and tabulated against the incidence of postnatal depression. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of the principal underlying variables. The Chinese-version Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for PPD. Antenatal screening for depression was conducted at 28–34 weeks during pregnancy and postpartum depressive symptoms were assessed at 6 weeks after childbirth in the women. Path Analysis of Structural Equation Model (SEM) was employed to explore the direct, indirect, and total effects of risk factors of PPD.Results57.6% (n = 333) of the participants subsequently developed PPD in our study. The results of the logistic analysis indicated that ages ≤ 35 years old (OR = 1.852; 95%CI: 1.002–3.423), non-one-child families (OR = 1.518; 95%CI: 1.047-2.200), and rare care from partner during pregnancy (OR = 2.801; 95%CI: 1.038–7.562), the antenatal EPDS score (OR = 1.128; 95%CI: 1.052–1.209), pyrexia during pregnancy (OR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.358–4.345), fairly good (OR = 1.836; 95%CI: 1.009–3.340), fairly bad (OR = 3.919; 95%CI:2.072–7.414) and very bad postpartum sleep quality (OR = 9.18; 95%CI: 2.335–36.241) were associated with increased risk of PPD (compared to very good postpartum sleep quality). In path analysis model, antenatal EPDS score (standardized total β = 0.173) and pyrexia during pregnancy (standardized total β = 0.132) had both direct and indirect effects (the impact on outcome variables needs to be determined through other variables) on PPD. Sleep quality after delivery (standardized β = 0.226) and one-child family (standardized β = 0.088) had direct effects only on PPD.ConclusionThe results from our study indicated that more than 50% of the women who experienced antepartum depression would subsequently develop PPD. Depressive symptoms and pyrexia during pregnancy increase PPD scores, and these effects were in part mediated via poor sleep quality during the postpartum period.

Only daughters caring for their aging mothers in Ufa, Russia

Russia is not the only country in the world that relies heavily on informal caregiving, but what makes Russia unique is the number of single-parent one-child families. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the transition from state socialism to market capitalism, little has changed in terms of the social protection of older adults. Unaffordable home care services, low pensions, bifurcation of the formerly free healthcare into state and private sectors, the invisibility of people with disabilities, and the absence of quality nursing homes, have left adult children in Russia no choice but to bear the full burden of caregiving for their aging parents completely alone. Given the scarcity of research that examines informal caregiving in Russia in general and in provincial cities in particular, this study addresses this gap by centering on previously unheard voices of a unique group of women: only children of single mothers from Ufa, a metropolitan city in the Ural Mountains. Twenty middle-aged (M = 40.75, SD = 3.43), college-educated women participated in a two-hour, semi-structured interview. Inductive thematic analysis revealed three themes: incongruence with the microenvironment, aging in the “cement box,” and distrust of outsiders. The findings suggest material and cultural constraints that female caregivers face as they negotiate the mothers’ discordance with the microenvironment of Khrushchev-era apartments.

The examination of demographics influences on the digital parenting awareness of parents with 3-6 years old children

This study aims to reveal the differences between digital parenting awareness by gender of the parent, age of the parent, perceived socioeconomic status of parent, daily internet usage duration of the parent, educational level of the parent, age of the child, number of children, and using a control app. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey method, the participants of the study consist of 308 parents with children ages 3 to 6. The Demographic Information Form and Digital Parenting Awareness Scale were administered and analyzed based on quantitative parametric analysis methods. Results showed that some demographics vary between mothers’ and fathers’ digital parenting awareness. Mothers show higher digital parenting awareness. Older parents are inclined to be digitally negligent of their children. Parents’ socioeconomic and educational levels almost do not influence digital parenting awareness. Parents do not act differently in digital environments regarding their pre-school age children. One-child families protect their kids from digital risks more than three-child families. It is important to emphasize that parents using the internet daily for more than four hours tend to have less awareness. Fathers/mothers using a parental control app have higher awareness to save and monitor their children online.