Population Research ›› 2016, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 6-19.

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Parenthood and Subjective Well-being: A Life-Cycle and Life-Course Perspective

Li Ting1,Fan Wenting2   

  1. 1 Center for Population and Development Studies,Renmin University of China;2 School of Sociology and Population Studies,Remin University
  • Online:2016-09-29 Published:2017-01-15
  • About author:Li Ting is Associate Professor,Center for Population and Development Studies,Renmin University of China.Fan Wenting is PhD Candidate,School of Sociology and Population Studies,Remin University.

生育与主观幸福感——基于生命周期和生命历程的视角

李婷1范文婷2   

  1. 1 中国人民大学人口与发展研究中心;2 中国人民大学社会与人口学院
  • 作者简介:李婷,中国人民大学人口与发展研究中心副教授; 范文婷,中国人民大学社会与人口学院博士生。
  • 基金资助:
    教育部留学归国人员科研启动基金项目成果(项目批准号:2014010343)

Abstract: Using data from CGSS 2003 ~2013 this paper explores the dynamic relationship between parenthood which is characterized by children’s number and sex structure and parents’subjective well-being.Through the hierarchical APC model,we derive the changing trends of such relationship along the time dimension of age,period and cohort.It is found that the effect of children’s number on parents’subjective wellbeing changes with parents’age.Having more children would bring negative effect to their young or middle aged parents but significantly promote the parents’happiness at their old age.Such age-differential effect is more salient for mothers.The happiness effect of children’s number also differs among parents’cohorts.Parents who were born in the 1940s enjoy the maximum happiness return from their children,after the cohort of which the positive effect rapidly diminishes due to the birth control regulation and demographic transition.Meanwhile,the happiness effects of having son differ between urban and rural parents.While having son slightly promote the subjective well-being of ru- ral parents,it significantly decreases the well-being of urban parents after their middle ages.Finally having daughters would marginally increases their parents’wellbeing,and the effect neither changes with parents’age or cohort nor differs between rural and urban mothers and fathers.

Keywords: Subjective Well-being, Number of Children, Sex Structure of Children, Life Cycle, Life Course, APC Analysis

摘要:  文章利用CGSS 2003~2013年数据通过APC模型来探讨以孩子数量和性别为特征的生育行为与父母主观幸福感的动态关系。结果表明更多的孩子会对处于中青年时期的父母产生负面影响,却会显著提升父母在老年时期的幸福感,并且这种效应在母亲中表现更为明显。出生在1940年代的父母享受了孩子数量对其幸福感的最高正向回报,而后随着计划生育政策的执行和人口转变的深入,孩子数量对父母幸福感的正向影响迅速消失。此外,对农村父母来说,生育儿子会在其整个生命周期内产生略微正向但不显著的幸福效应;但是对城市父母来说,生育儿子会显著降低其在中老年后的幸福感。养育女孩并没有明显的年龄和队列趋势,但都会为其个人的幸福感带来边际显著的正向作用。

关键词: 主观幸福感, 孩子数量, 孩子性别结构, 生命周期, 生命历程, 年龄 - 时期 - 队列分析