With the development of social economy and the policy adjustment, the one-child policy has been implemented in many countries. The difference in fertility intention between one-child families and non-one-child families has become a topic of great concern. The aim of this research was to investigate the differences in fertility intentions between one-child and non-only-child families and to analyze individual characteristics and family environmental factors that influence fertility intentions.By collecting and analyzing questionnaire data from 10,000 samples, we found that only child families have generally low fertility intention scores, compared with relatively high scores in non-only child families. Moreover, the results of the correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between only child and fertility intention score, indicating that only child families tend to have lower fertility intention.Further analysis indicated that family type, age, education level and income level were key factors influencing fertility intention. Non-one-child families, younger age groups, higher education level and higher income levels were positively correlated with higher fertility intention scores. This indicates that personal characteristics and family environment have significant effects on fertility intention.The results of this research are important to understand the social impact of one-child policy and developing the relevant policies. For the government and social institutions, attention should be paid to the fertility willingness of one-child families, and provide better support and encouragement, so as to balance the population structure and promote stable social development.

Junji Li. Research on differences in fertility intention of only child and non-only child. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2023) Vol. 6, Issue 16: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2023.061601.

[1] Ma Hong'ge, He Xiaoying. Changes and enlightenment of the Population and birth policy of the Communist Party of China since the centenary of the Party [J]. Journal of Xi'an University of Finance and Economics, 2021, 34(05):29-38. DOI:10. 19331/j. cnki. jxufe. 2021. 05. 012. 

[2] Zhang Yuan, Chen Jianqi. Changing fertility willingness and its policy enlightenment—An empirical study on the determinants of fertility willingness in Chinese families (1991- -2011) [J]. Journal of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, 2015 (03): 79-91. 

[3] Li Jianwei, Zhou Lingling. Population policy and Population structure and its development future in China [J]. Economic Dynamics, 2018 (12): 17-36. 

[4] Wang Weiguo, Liu Feng, Hu Chunlong. Birth policy, population age structure optimization and economic growth [J]. Economic Research, 2019, 54 (01): 116-131. 

[5] Zheng Zhenzhen. Fertility intention study of Chinese women of childbearing age [J]. Population Science of China, 2004 (05): 75-80 + 82. 

[6] Xu Yingmei, Qu Lingyun. Birth intention of women of childbearing age in only child families and their influencing factors—based on the survey in Ezhou, Huangshi and Xiantao, Hubei Province [J]. Population Science of China, 2011 (02): 76-84 + 112. 

[7] Zhuang Ya'er, Jiang Yu, Wang Zhili, etc. The current fertility willingness of urban and rural residents in China—is based on the 2013 National fertility intention survey [J]. Population Study, 2014, 38 (03): 3-13. 

[8] Ma Liang, Fang Xingming, Lei Zhen, etc. Will the sex of the only child affect the parents' willingness to have a second child?—Research based on data from China Comprehensive Social Survey (CGSS) [J]. Demographic Journal, 2016, 38(06):17-26. DOI:10. 16405/j. cnki. 1004-129X. 2016. 06. 002. 

[9] Feng Xiaotian. One era and the life course of two generations: 40 years of only-child research in China (1980—2019) [J]. The Humanities Magazine, 2020(11):22-36. DOI:10. 15895/j. cnki. rwzz. 2020. 11. 014. 

[10] Zhou Hui, Liu Yang. The influence of urban welfare on fertility intention—test based on CFPS data from the Yangtze River Economic Belt [J]. Northwest population, 2023, 44(01):91-103. DOI:10. 15884/j. cnki. issn. 1007-0672. 2023. 01. 007. 

[11] Qing Shisong. Intergenerational transmission of fertility intentions: the influence of parental attitudes and behavior [J]. Population Science of China, 2022 (05): 48-63 + 127. 

[12] Yang Lincong. Review of the influencing factors of population fertility intention under the background of universal second children [J]. Chongqing Social Sciences, 2020(01):94-105. DOI:10. 19631/j. cnki. css. 2020. 001. 009. 

[13] Jia Zhike, Luo Zhihua. Review and Outlook of research on fertility intention in China (1982-2016) [J]. Journal of Hebei University (Philosophy and Social Sciences edition), 2018, 43 (01): 152-160. 

[14] Feng Xiaotian. Two children: another reproductive revolution in Chinese society [J]. Journal of Nanjing University (Philosophy, Humanities and Social Sciences), 2021, 58 (02): 46-57 + 158. 

[15] Li Jiayan. Survey on the fertility intention of the only child in Beijing [J]. Population Science of China, 2003 (04): 78-82. 

[16] Meng Ke. A comparative study of the difference in fertility intentions between only child and non-only child—based on a survey of fertility intention and fertility behavior in Jiangsu Province [J]. Southern population, 2008, 23 (04): 1-7. 

[17] Hou Yafei, Ma Xiaohong. Study on the fertility intention of the only child in urban Beijing [J]. Beijing Social Sciences, 2008(01):27-31. DOI:10. 13262/j. bjsshkxy. bjshkx. 2008. 01. 006. 

[18] Hu Anrong, Yang Mingmei, Bao Yuze. The influence of working and family conflict on urban workers' willingness to have a second child—Based on the theory of planning behavior [J]. Population and Development, 2023, 29 (03): 34-48. 

[19] Ma Xiaohong, Hou Yafei. Birth will and change of only child and "double only" families in Beijing [J]. Population and Economy, 2008 (01): 15-18 + 6. 

[20] Chen Rong. The fertility trend of different people in large Chinese cities—Take Shanghai as an example [J]. Demographic Journal, 2020, 42(01):17-29. DOI:10. 16405/j. cnki. 1004-129X. 2020. 01. 002. 

[21] Yu Xiao, Liang Jia'ning. Research on the fertility intention of an only child in China—is based on the perspective of reproductive intergenerational transmission [J]. Zhejiang Social Science, 2021(11):80-89+97+158-159. DOI:10. 14167/j. zjss. 2021. 11. 009. 

[22] Huang Junjie. Generation interaction of fertility intentions: the influence of ideas and behavior [J]. Journal of Xiamen University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 2023, 73 (03): 67-77.