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Gender differences in early childhood development in rural China: a sibling structure perspective
Hongyu Guan1, Xiangzhe Chen1, Lidong Zhang1
1Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Faculty of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, No. 620 West Chang'an Street, Chang'an District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710000, China.
BMC Public Health
|August 7, 2025
Summary
Family structure impacts early cognitive development in rural China. Girls with more siblings or older siblings show lower scores, highlighting persistent gender disparities and the need for equitable resource allocation.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Cognitive Psychology
- Sociology of the Family
Background:
- Gender disparities in early childhood cognitive development persist in rural China.
- Unequal household resource allocation remains a concern in low- and middle-income countries, influenced by traditional son preference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine gender differences in early childhood cognitive development.
- To investigate the role of sibling structure in these disparities within rural China.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1,320 children aged 3-7 years in western China.
- Cognitive ability assessed using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV).
- Multivariate regression models used to explore associations between sibling structure and cognitive outcomes by gender.
Main Results:
- A negative association exists between sibling number and cognitive scores, more pronounced in girls.
- Girls with older siblings, particularly a 3-year age gap, had lower cognitive scores than boys.
- First-born and last-born children had cognitive advantages, less so for girls, likely due to resource dilution and parental investment differences.
Conclusions:
- Family structure significantly influences gender differences in early cognitive development in rural western China.
- Traditional norms may perpetuate unequal resource allocation, disadvantaging girls.
- Gender-sensitive policies are needed to promote equitable early childhood development and human capital.
Keywords:
Cognitive developmentEarly childhood developmentGender differencesSibling structuresSon preferenceMore Related Videos
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