Longitudinal analysis of development among single and nonsingle children in Nanjing, China - Ten-year follow-up study

Citation
Ws. Tseng et al., Longitudinal analysis of development among single and nonsingle children in Nanjing, China - Ten-year follow-up study, J NERV MENT, 188(10), 2000, pp. 701-707
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Psychiatry,Neurology,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE
ISSN journal
00223018 → ACNP
Volume
188
Issue
10
Year of publication
2000
Pages
701 - 707
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3018(200010)188:10<701:LAODAS>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
In order to examine the impact of "one-child-per-couple" family planning po licy on child development, a longitudinal study of a group of children in N anjing, China, was carried out between 1984 and 1995. The same cohort of ch ildren was examined at four stages of development: preschool, early school, preadolescence, and adolescence. Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist was used to measure the child's behavior. A total of 274 children were surveyed in all four stages. The total behavior problem scores obtained at differen t stages of development were compared among boys and girls. The results sho wed that the total score declined significantly in association with the tim e. As the child grew older, the problems score decreased significantly. Thi s maturation effect was seen for both boys and girls. On average, boys' sco res dropped from 21 to 11, whereas girls' scores went from 19.5 to 12. In c omparing single with nonsingle boys, there were no significant differences throughout the four stages of development. However, girls who were single c hildren, in contrast to girls with siblings, had significantly higher score s of total behavior problems at each stage of development. These findings i llustrate that the longitudinal effect of being a "single-child" is similar to other studies, indicating a minimal impact of family policy. However, t he effects were more prominent among girls. This phenomenon can be explaine d by parents' different attitude toward single-children because of gender d ifference.