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Education Fever in China: Children’s Academic Performance and Parents’ Life Satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Yi Chen

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Rong Huang

    (Nottingham University Business School)

  • Yuanping Lu

    (Zhongnan University of Economics and Law)

  • Kangyi Zhang

    (Raffles Institution)

Abstract

Chinese parents are highly renowned for their enthusiasm in children’s education and for extremely high expectations for their children’s scholastic performance. Using the China Family Panel Studies from 2010 to 2014, this paper examines the effects of children’s academic performance on their parents’ life satisfaction in China. We find that a one-unit rise in the class ranking of the child increases the parent’s life satisfaction score by 3.4 percentage points. Conversely, parents’ excessive educational involvement can have an adverse impact on their life satisfaction. The significant positive relationship between children’s academic performance and parents’ life satisfaction was, though, apparent only for middle-income, urban and single-child families, and only in provinces that are highly influenced by Confucianism. Our study also provides a partial socio-economic insight into Chinese parents’ obsession with their children’s education, and offers some important implications for policy makers in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Chen & Rong Huang & Yuanping Lu & Kangyi Zhang, 2021. "Education Fever in China: Children’s Academic Performance and Parents’ Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 927-954, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s10902-020-00258-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00258-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Ming Qian & Wei-qian Xiao & Yao-han Wei, 2023. "The Formation Logic and Counteractions of Parents' Educational Anxiety Accompanying the Introduction of Double Reduction Policy," Higher Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(4), pages 181-181, November.
    2. Ting Nie & Qiao Yan & Yan Chen, 2022. "Authoritative Parenting Style and Proactive Behaviors: Evidence from China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-10, March.
    3. Zewei Liu & Ji-Kang Chen, 2024. "Financial Resilience and Adolescent Development: Exploring a Construct of Family Socioeconomic Determinants and Its Associated Psychological and School Outcomes," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(5), pages 2283-2318, October.
    4. Chen, Yuanyuan & Yuan, Meng & Zhang, Min, 2023. "Income inequality and educational expenditures on children: Evidence from the China Family Panel Studies," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Penghu Zhu & Yingying Hu & Ning Zhang, 2024. "How does civilization promote happiness? Insights from the Civilized Cities Program in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.

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