Parental care among only children in China: motivation, provision, and experiences
Open accessAbstract
Being the only child in the family means concentrated responsibilities for parental care. This study presents findings from 23 semi-structured interviews with Chinese only children, exploring their care motivation, provision, and experiences within the context of Chinese filial piety and social change. We developed a typology by examining how Chinese only children responded to their parents’ care needs and why they provided care (or chose not to). Four caregiver types emerged, each with distinct experiences. Wholehearted intensive caregivers generally had positive experiences, whereas obligatory intensive caregivers often had negative experiences. Partially engaged caregivers felt either content or guilty, and minimal-sufficient caregivers exhibited fewer pronounced positive or negative experiences but were concerned about parent’s future care needs. In a social context characterized by a lack of public care support and an emphasis on filial piety, the caregiving experiences of only children was influenced by whether there was alignment between their intrinsic motivations and actions, and their ability to achieve internal balance and external understanding from their social network. Being the only child profoundly impacted their care motivation, provision, and experiences. Our findings suggest that factors influencing the caregiving experiences should be considered holistically, with attention to the broader social context.
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In a context of legal mandates, limited social support, and a strong cultural emphasis on filial piety, China's only children typically bear primary responsibility for caring for their parents.
“Therefore, in a context of legal mandates, limited social support, and a strong cultural emphasis on filial piety, China’s only children typically bear primary responsibility for caring for their parents (20).”
From Caring alone: older adult care burdens, practices, and structural imbalances among China's one-child generation (2025) · cites this paper as [20]
The caregiving role of China's only children has drawn attention in fields such as nursing and sociology.
“The caregiving role of China’s only children has drawn attention in fields such as nursing and sociology (18–21).”
From Caring alone: older adult care burdens, practices, and structural imbalances among China's one-child generation (2025) · cites this paper as [20]
China's only-child caregivers face physical strain and financial difficulties, as well as irreplaceable legal obligations and psychological challenges.
“This entails physical strain and financial difficulties, as well as irreplaceable legal obligations and psychological challenges (20).”
From Caring alone: older adult care burdens, practices, and structural imbalances among China's one-child generation (2025) · cites this paper as [20]
When parents require intensive care, the only children in the study sample face a range of risks, including physical fatigue, psychological distress, and disruption to their daily lives.
“When parents require intensive care, the only children in our study sample face a range of risks, including physical fatigue, psychological distress, and disruption to their daily lives (20).”
From Caring alone: older adult care burdens, practices, and structural imbalances among China's one-child generation (2025) · cites this paper as [20]
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- Authors
- Shen, Y., Ciobanu, R. O., van der Horst, M., Kliegel, M., & van Tilburg, T. G.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (CH)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Shen, Ying
- Venue
- Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2025-05-26
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 2545-2570
- ISSN
- 0265-4075 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-3608
- OpenAlex
- W4410734417
- Semantic Scholar
- 9bde5ccf0259bef15858d0c13f76d9e14d5d62c5
- Cited by
- 7
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 1
- FWCI
- 12.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Social and Personal Relationships (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- ArODES (HES-SO (https://www.hes-so.ch/)) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- CSC-VUA Scholarship (202008410223)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Keywords
- only children, parental care, filial piety, caregiver motivation, caregiver experiences, Chinese family, social change, guilt, social networks, intergenerational relations
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