ObjectiveTo learn the acceptance of the second-born children by urban school-age children and explore the relationship between their aggressive behavior and the acceptance of the second-born children.

MethodsA stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select three schools in Bengbu city.A total of 926 the only children and the first-born children of primary school from the second to sixth grades were selected as subjects for questionnaire survey.The content of the questionnaire included the basic situation of children, the 12-item aggression questionnaire, family status and acceptance status assessment questionnaire.

ResultsThere were 531 (57.34%) the only children and 395 (42.66%) the first-born children among the 926 primary school students.The acceptance rate of the second-born children by the first-born children was significantly higher than that by the only children (P < 0.01).The score of the first-born children in the physical aggression dimension was significantly higher than that of the only children (P < 0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high tendency of physical aggression and language aggression were the limiting factors for the acceptance of the second-born children by the only children, age growth was a contributing factor for the acceptance of the second-born children by the first-born children, and the high tendency of physical aggression, language aggression and hostility were the restricting factors for the acceptance of the second-born children by the first-born children.

ConclusionsIn order to promote children's social development, reduce children's aggression and improve the acceptance of compatriots, it is recommended that parents should do a good job of psychological counseling for the only children and the first-born children and adopt democratic and equal education mode, and schools can try mixed-age education models and carry out family school for parents to promote children's acceptance for the second-born children.