Only child, parental educational expectation, self-expectation and science literacy in Zhuang adolescents in China: a serial mediation model

The impact of only-child policy on Chinese children's development has been widely studied, leaving those from ethnic minority groups unexplored. This study investigated the possible mediating factors in the relationship between Singleton (only-child or not) status and science literacy in Zhuang adolescents, the largest ethnic minority group in China. Altogether 527 Zhuang students (Female = 263; aged from 13 to 17) were surveyed and tested with PISA Science (2008). The path and mediation analysis have confirmed that Parental Educational Expectation (PEE) and Self-Educational Expectation (SEE) acted as the serial mediators between Singleton and Science Literacy. This model indicates that Singleton causes a higher PEE, which is associated with a higher SEE, and eventually results in a higher Science Literacy. This finding implies that the Expectancy Value Model might be cross-cultural and universal, and highlight the importance of fostering a positive educational expectation to promote science literacy in adolescents.