1. Children have a significant impact on divorce risk in China, with couples who have premarital children being more likely to divorce.
2. The number of children has a positive effect on marital stability, but the marginal effect declines with an increase in the number of children.
3. Couples who have sons are less likely to divorce, and the positive effect of children on marital stability and the effect of children’s gender are stronger in rural areas due to differences in modernization and cultural values.
The article "The impact of children on divorce risk" explores the relationship between divorce risk and four variables related to children in China: premarital births and number, age, and gender of children. The study finds that all four variables have significant effects on divorce risk. Specifically, couples who have premarital children are more likely to divorce; the higher the number of children, the more stable the marriage, but the marginal effect declines with the increase of the number of children; younger children reduce the risk of divorce more than older ones; and couples who have sons are less likely to divorce.
The article provides a comprehensive background on the topic and highlights its significance in China's unique cultural context. However, there are some potential biases in this study. For instance, it assumes that having children is always beneficial for marital stability, which may not be true for all couples. Additionally, it does not consider other factors that may contribute to divorce risk such as economic status or mental health issues.
Furthermore, while the article acknowledges differences between urban and rural areas in China regarding modernization and cultural values, it does not explore how these differences may affect divorce risk differently. This could be an important consideration since rural areas tend to have lower levels of education and income compared to urban areas.
Another limitation is that the study only uses data from one wave of a panel survey conducted in 2010. It would be interesting to see if these findings hold up over time or if there are changes in patterns as society evolves.
Overall, while this article provides valuable insights into how children impact divorce risk in China, it is important to consider potential biases and limitations when interpreting its findings. Further research is needed to fully understand this complex relationship.