Associated Press

Beijing, May 14:

An online survey of young Chinese found that most kids born

after the one-child policy was introduced in the late 1970s consider themselves lonely, selfish and willful, state media said today.

Nearly half or 46 per cent, of the 7,000 surveyed also said they want at least two children of their own when they start a family, the official China Daily newspaper reported.

The online survey asked for responses from Chinese aged between 15 to 25. The newspaper did not give details of how the survey was conducted or provide a margin of error.

More than 58 per cent of the respondents said they thought they were “lonely, selfish and willful,” it said. More than 66 per cent cent they were disappointed to have no siblings, it added.

China says its decades-old policy of limiting urban couples to just one child has prevented some 200 million additional births. But critics say the plan has led to forced abortions and other abuses.

Couples who have unsanctioned children can face heavy fines, loss of jobs and forced sterilisation.