Parental Education Level and Household Economic Behavior: A Scoping Review and Implications for Research on Families with Primary School Students in Guangdong, China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71222/5v7mf287Keywords:
parental educational attainment, household economic behavior, financial decision making, primary education, guangdong province, socioeconomic factorsAbstract
Parental educational attainment is a key determinant of how families acquire information, allocate resources, and make decisions related to children's development and household welfare. Although growing attention has been paid to the association between parental education and household economic behavior across education, sociology, and household economics, the existing evidence remains fragmented across disciplines, populations, and geographical contexts. In particular, the literature relevant to families with primary school children in Guangdong, China, has not been systematically synthesized. This scoping review maps the conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literature on parental educational attainment and household economic behavior, with special focus on families with primary school children in Guangdong. The review methodology involved comprehensive searches in Scopus and Web of Science databases, yielding 243 initial records. After rigorous screening and assessment, 156 studies were included for analysis. The findings reveal a predominance of quantitative empirical studies, particularly from China, complemented by international comparative research. Key themes emerged including financial literacy, educational expenditure, childcare time allocation, and household decision-making patterns. The evidence consistently demonstrates that higher parental educational attainment correlates with more future-oriented and structured household economic behavior, though this relationship varies across social contexts. The review identifies significant gaps in research specifically addressing Guangdong's unique socioeconomic environment and primary school demographics, highlighting the need for more locally focused studies to inform targeted policy interventions and theoretical development in this crucial area.References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tian Jing, Abu Bakar Mohd Sheikh (Author)
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