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Parenting for Success: The Value of Children and Intensive Parenting in Post-Reform China

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  • Xiaorong Gu

    (Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore)

Abstract

Existing parenting research in sociology is dominated by a class analysis approach, which assumes a strong relationship between family resources and parenting behaviours. This relationship, however, is found to be weak in contexts such as China. In this study, I propose a theoretical model that takes account of parental valuation of children and explore its implications for parenting practices. Using this theoretical model, I analyse data from the 2014 survey of the China Family Panel Study and report the following findings. First, Chinese parents predominantly value a child figure who is “emotionally priceless and educationally achieving”. Second, parents who report higher emotional value and achievement value of their children are also significantly more likely to adopt intensive parenting practices. Last, family socioeconomic resources and parents’ valuation of children are complementary in affecting different dimensions of parenting: whereas family SES is positively correlated with parents’ investment in children’s education, parents’ perceived values of children (particularly the emotional value) exert strong effects on parental involvement in various ways to boost children’s academic performance. I conclude the article by ruminating on the theoretical and policy implications of this study.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaorong Gu, 2021. "Parenting for Success: The Value of Children and Intensive Parenting in Post-Reform China," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(2), pages 555-581, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:14:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s12187-020-09746-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-020-09746-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Vinod Mishra, 2018. "Returns to education in China: a meta-analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(54), pages 5903-5919, November.
    2. Debra Friedman & Michael Hechter & Satoshi Kanazawa, 1994. "A theory of the value of children," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 31(3), pages 375-401, August.
    3. Gary S. Becker & H. Gregg Lewis, 1974. "Interaction between Quantity and Quality of Children," NBER Chapters, in: Economics of the Family: Marriage, Children, and Human Capital, pages 81-90, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Sabino Kornrich & Frank Furstenberg, 2013. "Investing in Children: Changes in Parental Spending on Children, 1972–2007," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(1), pages 1-23, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peipei Hong & Hao Wu & Qing Mei & Jie He & Ming Cui, 2025. "Spoiling the Spoils: Indulgent Parenting Costs Parents’ Well-Being More When Adolescents Deny Receiving Much Indulgence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Senhu Wang & Hao Dong, 2024. "Flexible Working Arrangements and Fertility Intentions: A Survey Experiment in Singapore," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 40(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Xiaorong Gu, 2021. "Introduction: the Value of Children and Social Transformations in Asia," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(2), pages 477-486, April.

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