earticle

영어

In recent decades, China has undergone substantial social and economic transformations, profoundly influencing the dynamics of family and marriage. This evolving landscape is marked by notable shifts, including a decline in arranged marriages, changing gender roles, and a rise in individualism, underscoring a blending of traditional and modern influences on familial and marital structures. Given this increasingly complex web of factors on marital relationship, this study aims to address a pivotal question: How, and through what mechanism(s), do spousal factors, kinship factors, and parent-child relationship impact marital satisfaction in Chinese families? Drawing on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this paper examines the mechanisms through which spousal, kinship, and children factors contribute to marital satisfaction. Findings reveal that spousal factors significantly impact marital satisfaction, with couple’s greater homogeneity, more commitment, and favorable objective family conditions correlating with higher satisfaction. Extended kinship factors exhibit some influence, particularly in the case of increased interactions correlating with lower marital satisfaction. Remarkably, children factors emerge as the most influential, with a positive parent-child relationship and child(ren)'s self-discipline performance contributing significantly to marital satisfaction. The results are hence in favour of the "spillover" explanation, indicating that satisfactory parent-child relationships affect marital satisfaction positively. These findings deepen our understanding of Chinese family and marriage patterns. While traditional values still hold significance, the evolving Chinese family structure, increasingly nuclear in nature, highlights the centrality of relationships within small families. Furthermore, the noteworthy link perceived between children's self-discipline performance and marital quality also reflects a “raising aspiration” for upward social mobility throughout Chinese society and an increasing anxiety deeply influenced by the zeitgeist of the era. This study provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of modern Chinese families and underscores the evolving nature of marital relationships in the dynamic social context.