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Sibling Availability, Sibling Sorting, and Subjective Health Among Chinese Adults
Haowei Wang1, Ashton M Verdery2, Rachel Margolis3
1Department of Sociology, Aging Studies Institute, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Demography
|May 30, 2024
Summary
Adults without siblings or in-laws report better physical health. This study on Chinese family dynamics found siblingless couples are rare and their health outcomes are not worse than those with siblings.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising numbers of only children in China prompt investigation into adult family dynamics and well-being.
- Theoretical predictions on the health impacts of sibling availability offer opposing views regarding social support and parental care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine marital sorting based on the number of siblings among Chinese adults.
- To test the association between sibling availability, sibling sorting, and subjective physical and mental health.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2010 China Family Panel Study.
- Analyzed marital patterns concerning the number of siblings each spouse has.
- Assessed the relationship between sibling status and self-reported physical and mental health.
Main Results:
- Observed a low prevalence of couples where both spouses are only children, contrary to perceptions of exceedingly small families.
- Married adults without siblings or siblings-in-law reported better subjective physical health compared to those with siblings.
- No significant difference in subjective mental health was found between those with and without siblings or siblings-in-law.
Conclusions:
- The health advantages of siblingless marital unions were more pronounced for rural and female adults.
- Declining sibling prevalence in China is expected to influence future family demographics but appears less detrimental to population health than anticipated.
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