Research Findings: Despite the fact that the universal two-child policy had a significant impact on family structure and parenting behaviors, there is still a paucity of study on the mechanisms underlying this policy’s effects. This study explored the role of social competence and sibling presence in the relationship between maternal warmth and prosocial behaviors. Participants were 203 children aged 5–6 years (M_age = 48.47 months, SD = 3.74;104 boys) and their mothers in China. Maternal warmth was assessed through the observation of mother – child interaction. Child social competence and prosocial behaviors were assessed by teacher. The results showed that:(1) only children had more prosocial behaviors than children with siblings; (2) maternal warmth (T1) was positively correlated with child prosocial behaviors at Time1 and Time2; (3) Social competence (T2) mediated the longitudinal association between maternal warmth (T1) and child prosocial behaviors (T2); (4) The sibling presence moderated the relationship between maternal warmth (T1) and child prosocial behaviors (T2). Specifically, maternal warmth was only associated with subsequent prosocial behaviors for children in one-child families. Practice or Policy: These results revealed the influence of family structure and maternal warmth on child prosocial behaviors especially for children with siblings.

Introduction: Although mobility has been identified as a significant risk factor adversely affecting mental health and well-being, the mechanisms underlying this association remain insufficiently understood. Unlike traditional linear regression approaches, this study applies network analysis to systematically explore how multiple family risk factors collectively affect problem behaviors in migrant and urban preschoolers. Methods: A total of 1,469 children (500 urban, 959 migrant) and their parents were recruited. Network analysis examined interrelationships among family risk factors and compared risk networks between migrant and urban children. Latent profile analysis identified general and high-risk migrant groups based on problem behaviors, and network analysis explored unique risk patterns in high-risk migrant children. Results: Three key factors—household chaos, maternal punishment, and maternal executive function—proved central in shaping both internalizing and externalizing problems. Importantly, paternal influences played a more significant role within migrant families, while maternal influences were more salient in urban families. Furthermore, among migrant families, high-risk children exhibited risk networks that were densely clustered around mother- and father-centered “risk networks” independently, yet demonstrated lower overall network connectivity, suggesting a more fragmented pattern of family risk dynamics. Discussion: These findings highlight the importance of parental roles, differing social contexts, and cumulative risk in understanding child subjective well-being.

Problem behaviors in early childhood may put young children at risk for negative behavioral and psychosocial problems. This study examined the effectiveness of group PCIT on Chinese young children’s externalizing and internalizing problems. The participants were 58 mothers with their children aged 2–3 years (M = 2.95 years, SD = 0.22), assigned to an immediate treatment (n = 26) group or to a waitlist (n = 32) control group. The program involved comprehensive group intervention and featured weekly 60–90-min sessions, totaling ten sessions over three months. Results indicate that group PCIT not only significantly improved teacher-reported problem behaviors in children, but also improved observed maternal parenting behavior. These findings support the use of group PCIT in Chinese children and provide mothers with an evidence-based tool to address problem behaviors in a non-clinical population.

As declining birth rates emerge as a significant societal concern, understanding the implications of being an only child versus having siblings is becoming increasingly important in China, especially in relation to social and emotional development. This longitudinal study examines the role of solitude preference and sibling status in the relationships between negative emotionality and loneliness in early childhood. The participants were 204 children (M _age = 48.58 months, SD = 3.60). At Time 1, the children were interviewed to assess their preference for solitary play and loneliness, with a follow-up assessment of loneliness conducted at Time 2, two years later. Meanwhile, mothers provided evaluations of their children’s negative emotionality at Time 1. The findings indicate that negative emotionality positively predicts loneliness two years later, with solitude preference acting as a mediator in this relationship. Additionally, sibling status was found to moderate the link between negative emotionality and solitude preference. Specifically, for only children, higher negative emotionality intensified the relationship between solitude preference and loneliness, whereas having siblings acted as a protective factor, mitigating this effect. These results underscore the potential social and psychological disadvantages faced by only children and highlight the protective role siblings can play in mitigating feelings of loneliness.