The intergenerational transmission of cultural trauma in China: conflict and compensation between Lineage Perpetuation and Ancestral Continuity

Previous studies on China’s social transformation have largely focused on individualization trends or macro-level changes in fertility attitudes, neglecting how the ‘cultural trauma’ caused by social engineering (e.g. the One-Child Policy) affects deep psychological defenses. This study investigates whether ‘Lineage Perpetuation’ has evolved into a psychological strategy for managing death anxiety and pursuing symbolic immortality, ultimately influencing life satisfaction. Using China Family Panel Studies (2018, N = 9191) data, a moderated mediation model was tested. Results show that the desire for posthumous remembrance positively predicted attitudes toward Lineage Perpetuation, but this relationship was negatively moderated by ancestral continuity belief. Lineage Perpetuation attitudes partially mediated the relationship between posthumous remembrance and life satisfaction. Findings indicate that in modern society, Lineage Perpetuation serves as a key psychological response to cultural trauma, a function that can be partially substituted by strong ancestral continuity beliefs or individualized meaning-making pathways.