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The Weight Status of Only Children in China: The Role of Marital Satisfaction and Maternal Warmth

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Abstract

Objectives

Previous studies have indicated that only children (i.e., children without siblings) have a greater risk of being overweight and/or obese than children with siblings. The present study aimed to explore how family factors, such as maternal warmth and marital relationships, are associated with the weight status of only children in China.

Methods

The sample was comprised of 395 mothers (M = 32.95 years old, SD= 3.18) with only children (M = 61.32 months, SD= 9.32) in Shanghai, China. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing maternal warmth and marital satisfaction. In addition, they reported their children’s weight and height, which was used to calculate the children’s body mass index (BMI) and overweight/obese status.

Results

Maternal warmth was negatively related to only children’s BMI and overweight/obese status. Marital satisfaction, on the other hand, was only negatively related to only children’s BMI. In addition, maternal warmth had a mediating role in the association between marital satisfaction and children’s BMI.

Conclusions

The findings may enhance our understanding of how family functioning influences only children’s weight.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (31700969) and the Research Fund of the School of Social Development and Public Policy at Fudan University. And it was a part of the project “Social transition and sociological theory” founded by the “Double-First Class” plan of social science development of Fudan University.

Authors Contributions

B.B.C. designed and executed the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper. N.Z. designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analyses, and collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, 200433, Shanghai, China

    Bin-Bin Chen

  2. Capital Normal University, Beijing, China

    Nan Zhou

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Capital Normal University and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Chen, BB., Zhou, N. The Weight Status of Only Children in China: The Role of Marital Satisfaction and Maternal Warmth. J Child Fam Stud 28, 2754–2761 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01455-z

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