Assessing Mothers' Parenting Stress: Differences Between One- and Two-Child Families in China

This study aimed to investigate mothers' parenting stress and explore its relationship with associated demographic variables in two-child families involving preschool children. A sample of 621 two-child families and a comparison group of 319 one-child families from China participated in the study; the children were aged between 3 and 7. The results showed that (1) mothers of two-child families had higher parenting stress than those of one-child families; (2) within the two-child families, demographic variables, such as birth order, gender combination, and the age gap were found to have significant effects on maternal stress levels; and (3) in two-child families, families with an income of less than 3000 yuan had significantly higher maternal stress than families with an income of more than 6000 yuan.

Automated summary

The study found that mothers in two-child families generally experience higher parenting stress than those in one-child families. Within two-child families, demographic variables such as birth order, gender combination, and age gap were found to significantly impact maternal stress levels. Additionally, family income plays a significant role, with mothers in families earning less than 3000 yuan experiencing significantly higher stress than those earning over 6000 yuan.