Comparative study of behavioral qualities of only children and sibling children

Research was carried out to investigate the manifestations and socialization processes of only and sibling children for the better implementation of the Chinese 1-child family planning program. A total of 993 rural and urban kindergarten and primary school Chinese children of 4-6 and 9-10 years of age were rated on 7 behavioral qualities. The results, based on 180 matched pairs of only and sibling children, revealed that only children are more egocentric, whereas sibling children possess the positive qualities of persistence, cooperation, and peer prestige. There are indications that occupation and educational background of parents and the number of generations living together are not decisive in determining the behavioral qualities of Chinese children in the Beijing area under study.