The academic, personality, and physical outcomes of only children in China

Child Dev. 1993 Feb;64(1):18-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1993.tb02893.x.

Abstract

Representative samples of 1,000 schoolchildren from 4 Chinese provinces were surveyed to compare the outcomes of only children to those of firstborn and later-born children. The children's ages ranged from 8 to 17 years, with half of the sample in the third grade and the other half in the sixth grade. 3 types of outcomes were considered. In terms of academics, differences between only children and others were found in 3 of the 4 provincial samples, with onlies being most likely to outscore others in verbal tests. In terms of personality evaluations, very few only-child effects were found. In 2 of the 4 provincial samples, only children were found to be taller or to weigh more than others. Taken together, these results suggest that the one-child policy in China is not producing a generation of "little emperors."

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement*
  • Birth Order / psychology
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • China
  • Family Planning Policy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality*