COMPARISON OF PERSONALITY-TRAITS OF ONLY AND SIBLING SCHOOL-CHILDREN IN BEIJING

The number of only children in China has increased rapidly since the l ate 1970s, when the Chinese government advocated the ''one-child-per-f amily'' policy. This increase has caused much public concern about the healthy growth of the young generation. In this study the behavioral traits of Chinese, urban, only children were investigated. The partici pants were 444 children with siblings and 473 only children from Grade s 1, 3, and 5 in Beijing primary schools. An inventory consisting of 2 7 items covering three behavioral traits was developed. The children w ere rated on the inventory by the principal teacher of the class. Fact or analysis revealed three main factors: achievement motivation, inter personal skills, and attitude toward manual labor. The only children e xceeded the sibling children on achievement motivation. No differences were found between only children and sibling children on interpersona l skills and attitude toward manual labor. Gender differences were evi dent; girls consistently received higher ratings on achievement motiva tion and interpersonal skills. The possible underlying reasons for the se differences are discussed.