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The Relationship between Childcare Services Participation and Parental Subjective Well-Being under China’s Three-Child Policy—Based on the Mediation Effect of Parenting Stress

Author

Listed:
  • Xiumin Hong

    (Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.)

  • Jingyuan Wang

    (Faculty of Preschool Education, Beijing Institute of Education, Beijing 100009, China
    These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.)

  • Wenting Zhu

    (Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between children’s participation in childcare services from birth to 3 years of age and their parents’ subjective well-being, as well as the mediating role of parenting stress. In total, 990 parents of children aged 0–3 years from Beijing were surveyed. First, independent samples t -tests after propensity score matching revealed that parents who participated in childcare services may have significantly higher overall subjective well-being and life satisfaction than those who did not participate. Second, a descriptive analysis and an analysis of variance results indicated that remote location, low quality, and high price may be the major reasons for parents’ dissatisfaction with childcare services, and a regression analysis of childcare dissatisfaction showed that high-priced childcare services had a significant negative relationship with parent’s subjective well-being. Third, the results of a mediation analysis of parenting stress revealed that childcare services have significant direct effects on parents’ subjective well-being, and a small mediating effect of parenting stress on parent’s childcare service participation and parental subjective well-being. The findings demonstrate the importance of childcare services, especially for the provision of affordable childcare to improve parents’ subjective well-being and relieving pressure on parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiumin Hong & Jingyuan Wang & Wenting Zhu, 2022. "The Relationship between Childcare Services Participation and Parental Subjective Well-Being under China’s Three-Child Policy—Based on the Mediation Effect of Parenting Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:24:p:16425-:d:997381
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    1. Hui Li & Yong Jiang & Xiumin Hong & Li Luo, 2023. "Special Issue: Sustainable Early Childhood Education for the Sustainable Development of Aging China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-6, May.

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