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Socioeconomic development and Chinese young adults’ propensity to live alone: An extended replication study

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Wang

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Chenyu Yan

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Che Deng

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Hong He

    (Renmin University of China)

Abstract

Background: The proportion of young adults living alone has increased remarkably in China. This study seeks to assess current patterns and influencing factors in this phenomenon by replicating Cheung and Yeung’s (2021) study, which highlighted the compositional and contextual effects on young adults’ propensity to live alone. Methods: We analyzed 265,060 young adults aged 20–35 from the Seventh National Population Census Microdata (2020), nested within 315 prefectures. Two-level random-intercept logistic regression models were employed to examine the effects of socioeconomic development and individual factors on living alone separately for men and women. Results: The association between prefecture-level development and living alone remains positive in China as of 2020. However, the probability of living alone in less-developed areas is unexpectedly higher than that in middle-developed areas. Further, the curvilinear association between prefecture-level development and living alone is weak after controlling for migration status. Single people and short-term migrants (

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Wang & Chenyu Yan & Che Deng & Hong He, 2024. "Socioeconomic development and Chinese young adults’ propensity to live alone: An extended replication study," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 51(31), pages 965-998.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:51:y:2024:i:31
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2024.51.31
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    living alone; one-person households; young adults; socioeconomic development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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