Is the Influence of Human Capital on Fertility Intentions Channeled through Subjective Well-being?
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Abstract
In recent years, the global challenge of low fertility rates has underscored the critical role of fertility intentions in predicting behavior. A growing body of research is devoted to exploring the determinants of fertility intentions from an individual-centered perspective. This study integrates the areas of human capital, subjective well-being, and fertility intentions to shed light on their interrelationships. Four hypotheses are proposed: the impact of human capital on fertility intention, the impact of human capital on subjective well-being, the impact of subjective well-being on fertility intention, and the mediating role of subjective well-being in the link between human capital and fertility intention. The data were collected through questionnaire surveys in four Chinese provinces — Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan. The results show that both human capital and subjective well-being have a positive influence on fertility intention, with subjective well-being acting as a partial mediator. Particularly noteworthy is the mediation analysis, which fills a gap in the previous literature by demonstrating the partial mediation of subjective well-being in the relationship between human capital and fertility intentions.
These research findings have important implications for the formulation of targeted public policies. By improving individuals' human capital through interventions such as educational programs, employment initiatives, and social support mechanisms, policy makers can indirectly influence fertility intentions by promoting improvements in subjective well-being.
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