Intergenerational Changes in Fertility Values and Family Transmission Pathways
1. Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; 2. Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Based on a nationally representative sample, this study identifies the intergenerational transmission of fertility values between parents and their offspring as its core research focus. It systematically examines the predictive relationship of fertility values across generations while exploring the moderating roles of demographic variables (gender and birth cohort), developmental contexts (urban-rural upbringing), and cognitive-affective factors (perception of rearing conditions and positive parenting affect).The results indicate that parental fertility values significantly and positively predict those of their offspring. Moderation analysis reveals that both structural and psychological factors significantly influence the transmission intensity of these values within the family system. This research elucidates the psychological mechanisms underlying the persistence of traditional fertility values and provides empirical evidence for understanding value shifts in low-fertility societies, offering insights for the formulation of related population policies.