Zhenchao Qian is professor of sociology and research associate of Population Studies and Training Center at Brown University. His research areas include social demography, stratification, and inequality. More specifically, he studies “who marries whom” and “who lives with whom,” their opportunities, patterns, trends, and consequences. He also investigates how assortative mating patterns, changes in marital status, and marital transitions influence individuals’ wellbeing. In addition, he is interested in topics including racial identification among children born to interracial couples, immigrant integration in the United States, and social and family change in China.
| Qian, Zhenchao Lichter, Daniel T. "Racial Pairings and Fertility: Do Interracial Couples Have Fewer Children?." Journal of Marriage and Family, 2021. |
| Qian, Zhenchao and Yue Qian. "Generation, education, and intermarriage of Asian Americans." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 2019. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Yuan Cheng, and Yue Qian. "Hukou, Marriage, and Access to Wealth in Shanghai." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 2019. |
|
Lichter, Daniel T. and Zhenchao Qian.
"The Study of Assortative Mating: Theory, Data, and Analysis." Analytical Family Demography, edited by Robert Schoen, new york, new york, Springer, 2019, pp. 303-337.
|
| Lichter, Daniel T., Qian, Zhenchao. "Boundary Blurring? Racial Identification among the Children of Interracial Couples." The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 677, no. 1, 2018, pp. 81-94. |
|
Lichter, Daniel T. and Zhenchao Qian.
"Children at Risk: Diversity, Inequality, and the Third Demographic Transition." Low Fertility Regimes and Demographic and Societal Change, edited by Dudley L. Poston, Jr., Samsik Lee and Hangon Kim, New York, NY, Springer Publishers, 2018, pp. 169-191.
|
| Qian, Zhenchao, Lichter, Daniel T., Tumin, Dmitry. "Divergent Pathways to Assimilation? Local Marriage Markets and Intermarriage Among U.S. Hispanics." Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 80, no. 1, 2018, pp. 271-288. |
| Tian, Felicia F., Yue Qian, and Zhenchao Qian. "Hukou Locality and Intermarriages in Two Chinese Cities: Shanghai and Shenzhen." Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, vol. 56, 2018, pp. 12-20. |
| Qian Zhenchao, Lichter Daniel T. "Marriage Markets and Intermarriage: Exchange in First Marriages and Remarriages." Demography, 2018. |
| Sassler, Sharon, Michelmore, Katherine, Qian, Zhenchao. "Transitions From Sexual Relationships Into Cohabitation and Beyond." Demography, 2018. |
| Qian, Yue, Qian, Zhenchao. "Assortative Mating by Education and Hukou in Shanghai." Chinese Sociological Review, vol. 49, no. 3, 2017, pp. 239-262. |
| Hu, Anning, Qian, Zhenchao. "Does higher education expansion promote educational homogamy? Evidence from married couples of the post-80s generation in Shanghai, China." Social Science Research, vol. 60, 2016, pp. 148-162. |
| Painter, Matthew A., Qian, Zhenchao. "Wealth Inequality Among Immigrants: Consistent Racial/Ethnic Inequality in the United States." Population Research and Policy Review, vol. 35, no. 2, 2016, pp. 147-175. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Shah, Priyank. "Assimilation paths of immigrant children: Asian Indians and Filipinos compared." Chinese Journal of Sociology, vol. 1, no. 3, 2015, pp. 356-379. |
| Hu, Anning, Qian, Zhenchao. "Educational homogamy and earnings inequality of married couples: Urban China, 1988–2007." Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, vol. 40, 2015, pp. 1-15. |
| Tumin, Dmitry, Han, Siqi, Qian, Zhenchao. "Estimates and Meanings of Marital Separation." Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 77, no. 1, 2015, pp. 312-322. |
| Tumin, Dmitry, Qian, Zhenchao. "Unemployment and the Transition From Separation to Divorce." Journal of Family Issues, vol. 38, no. 10, 2015, pp. 1389-1413. |
| Painter, Matthew A., Qian, Zhenchao. "Wealth Inequality among New Immigrants." Sociological Perspectives, vol. 59, no. 2, 2015, pp. 368-394. |
| Lichter, Daniel T., Qian, Zhenchao, Tumin, Dmitry. "Whom Do Immigrants Marry? Emerging Patterns of Intermarriage and Integration in the United States." The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 662, no. 1, 2015, pp. 57-78. |
|
Qian, Zhenchao.
"Divergent Paths of American Families." Diversity and Disparities: America Enters a New Century, edited by John Logan, New York, Russell Sage Foundation, 2014, pp. 237-69.
|
| Tsai, Ming-Chang, Qian, Zhenchao. "Introduction to the Symposium of Manufacturing (Un)Happiness in East Asia: Work, Employment and Well-Being." Social Indicators Research, vol. 121, no. 1, 2014, pp. 1-4. |
| Qian, Yue, Qian, Zhenchao. "The gender divide in urban China: Singlehood and assortative mating by age and education." Demographic Research, vol. 31, 2014, pp. 1337-1364. |
| Qian, Yue, Qian, Zhenchao. "Work, Family, and Gendered Happiness Among Married People in Urban China." Social Indicators Research, vol. 121, no. 1, 2014, pp. 61-74. |
|
Qian, Zhenchao and Daniel T. Lichter.
"Are Recent Trends in Intermarriage Consistent with Assimilation Theory?." Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological Perspective, edited by David Grusky, Westview Press, 2013, pp. 788-99.
|
| Tian, Felicia Feng, Merli, M. Giovanna, Qian, Zhenchao. "Job Mobility and Extramarital Sex in Reform-Era Urban China." Chinese Sociological Review, vol. 46, no. 1, 2013, pp. 60-82. |
| Restifo, Salvatore J., Roscigno, Vincent J., Qian, Zhenchao. "Segmented Assimilation, Split Labor Markets, and Racial/Ethnic Inequality." American Sociological Review, vol. 78, no. 5, 2013, pp. 897-924. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Glick, Jennifer E., Batson, Christie D. "Crossing Boundaries: Nativity, Ethnicity, and Mate Selection." Demography, vol. 49, no. 2, 2012, pp. 651-675. |
|
Qian, Zhenchao.
"During the Great Recession, More Young Adults Lived with Parents." Census Brief prepared for Project US 2010, 2012, pp. www.s4.brown.edu/us2010.
|
| Lu, Bo, Qian, Zhenchao, Cunningham, Anna, Li, Chih-Lin. "Estimating the Effect of Premarital Cohabitation on Timing of Marital Disruption." Sociological Methods & Research, vol. 41, no. 3, 2012, pp. 440-466. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Lichter, Daniel T. "Changing Patterns of Interracial Marriage in a Multiracial Society." Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 73, no. 5, 2011, pp. 1065-1084. |
| Lichter, Daniel T., Carmalt, Julie H., Qian, Zhenchao. "Immigration and Intermarriage Among Hispanics: Crossing Racial and Generational Boundaries1." Sociological Forum, vol. 26, no. 2, 2011, pp. 241-264. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Hodson, Randy. "‘Sent Down’ in China: Stratification challenged but not denied." Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, vol. 29, no. 2, 2011, pp. 205-219. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Lichter, Daniel T., Crowley, Martha. "Chinese Children Among the Poor: Comparing U.S. Natives with Immigrants from Taiwan, Mainland China, and Hong Kong." Race and Social Problems, vol. 2, no. 3-4, 2010, pp. 137-148. |
| Kevin Shafer Zhenchao Qian. "Marriage Timing and Educational Assortative Mating." Journal of Comparative Family Studies, vol. 41, 2010, pp. 661-691. |
| Downey, Douglas T., James W. Ainsworth, and Zhenchao Qian. "Rethinking the Attitude/Achievement Paradox Among Blacks." Sociology of Education, vol. 82, 2009, pp. 1-19. |
| Lichter, Daniel T. and Zhenchao Qian. "Serial Cohabitation and the Marital Life Course." Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 70, 2008, pp. 861-878. |
|
Lichter, Daniel T., Zhenchao Qian, and Martha Crowley.
"America’s Racial Minority and Immigrant Children: Changing Poverty and Inequality at the Turn of the 20th Century." Handbook of Families and Poverty: Interdisciplinary Perspective, edited by D. Russell Crane and Elaine S. Marshall, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications, 2007, pp. 119-143.
|
| Lichter, Daniel T., Brian J. Brown*, Zhenchao Qian, and Julie H. Carmalt. "Marital Assimilation among Hispanics: Evidence of Declining Cultural and Economic Incorporation?." vol. 88, 2007, pp. 745-765. |
| Qian, Zhenchao and Daniel T. Lichter. "Social Boundaries and Marital Assimilation: Interpreting Trends in Racial and Ethnic Intermarriage." American Sociological Review, vol. 72, 2007, pp. 68-94. |
|
Zhou, Min and Zhenchao Qian.
"Social Support and Self-Reported Quality of Life: China’s Oldest Old." Healthy Longevity in China: Demographic, Socioeconomic and Psychological Dimension, edited by Zeng Yi, Dudley Posten, Denese Ashbaugh Vlosky, and Danan Gu, Dordrecht, Springer Publisher, 2007, pp. 359-377.
|
| "Who Survives on Death Row: An Individual and Contextual Analysis." American Sociological Review, vol. 72, 2007, pp. 610-632. |
| Crowley, Martha L.*, Daniel T. Lichter, and Zhenchao Qian. "Beyond Gateway Cities: Economic Restructuring and Changing Poverty among Mexican Immigrants." Family Relations, vol. 55, 2006, pp. 345-360. |
| Batson, Christie D.*, Zhenchao Qian, and Daniel T. Lichter. "Interracial and Intraracial Patterns of Mate Selection Among America’s Diverse Black Populations." Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 68, 2006, pp. 658-672. |
|
Lichter, Daniel T. and Zhenchao Qian.
Marriage and Family in a Multiracial Society. New York: Russell Sage Foundation and Washington DC: Population Reference Bureau, 2006.
|
| Lichter DT, Qian Z, Mellott LM. "Marriage or dissolution? Union transitions among poor cohabiting women." Demography, vol. 43, no. 2, 2006, pp. 223-40. |
|
Lichter, Daniel T., Zhenchao Qian, and Martha L. Crowley.
"Race and Poverty: Divergent Fortunes of America’s Children?." Focus, vol. 3, 2006, pp. 8-16.
|
| Qian, Zhenchao. "Breaking the Racial Taboo: Interracial Marriage in America." Contexts, vol. 4, 2005, pp. 33-37. |
| Lichter, Daniel T., Zhenchao Qian, and Martha L. Crowley. "Child Poverty among Racial Minorities and Immigrants: Explaining Trends and Differentials." Social science quarterly, vol. 86, 2005, pp. 1037-1059. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Daniel T. Lichter, and Leanna Mellott. "Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing, Marital Prospects, And Mate Selection." Social Forces, vol. 84, 2005, pp. 473-491. |
| Merli, M. Giovanna, Zhenchao Qian, and Herbert L. Smith. "Adaptation of a Political Bureaucracy to Economic and Institutional Change under Socialism: The Chinese State Family Planning System." Politics and Society, vol. 32, 2004, pp. 231-256. |
| Qian, Zhenchao and Jose A. Cobas. "Latinos’ Mate Selection: National Origin, Racial, and Nativity Differences." Social Science Research, vol. 33, 2004, pp. 225-247. |
| Qian, Zhenchao. "Options: Racial/Ethnic Identification of Children of Intermarried Couples." Social science quarterly, vol. 85, 2004, pp. 746-766. |
| Sassler, Sharon and Zhenchao Qian. "Marital Timing and Marital Assimilation: Variation and Change among European Americans between 1910 and 1980." Historical Methods, vol. 36, 2003, pp. 131-148. |
| Qian, Zhenchao. "Race and Social Distance: Intermarriage with Non-Latino Whites." Race and Society, vol. 5, 2002, pp. 33-47. |
| Qian, Zhenchao, Sampson Lee Blair, and Stacey Ruf. "Asian American Interracial and Interethnic Marriages: Differences by Education and Nativity." Int Migr Rev, vol. 35, 2001, pp. 557-586. |
| Qian, Zhenchao and Daniel T. Lichter. "Measuring Marital Assimilation: Intermarriage Among Natives and Immigrants." Social Science Research, vol. 30, 2001, pp. 289-312. |
| Nagasawa, Richard, Zhenchao Qian, and Pual Wong. "Theory of Segmented Assimilation and the Adoption of Adolescent Normative Behavior by Asian Pacific Youth." The Sociological Quarterly , vol. 42, 2001, pp. 351-372. |
|
Balcazar, Hector and Zhenchao Qian.
"Immigrant Families and Sources of Stress." Families and Change: Coping with Stressful Life Events and Transitions (Second Edition), edited by Patrick C. McKenry and Sharon J. Price, Thousand Oaks, 2000, pp. 359-377.
|
| Nagasawa, Richard, Zhenchao Qian, and Paul Wong. "Social Control Theory as a Theory of Conformity: The Case of Asian/Pacific Drug and Alcohol Nonuse." Sociological Perspectives, vol. 43, 2000, pp. 581-603. |
|
Blair, Sampson Lee and Zhenchao Qian.
"Parents, Peers, and Adolescents’ Marital Aspirations: Ethnicity-Based Distinctions." Till Death Do Us Part: A Multi-Cultural Anthology on Marriage, edited by R. Robin Miller, Greenwich, Connecticut, JAI Press, 1999, pp. 237-252.
|
| Qian, Zhenchao and Sampson Lee Blair. "Racial Differences in Educational Aspirations of High School Seniors." Sociological Perspectives, vol. 42, 1999, pp. 605-625. |
| Qian, Zhenchao. "Who Intermarries? Education, Nativity, Region, and Interracial Marriage, 1980 and 1990." Journal of Comparative Family Studies, vol. 30, 1999, pp. 579-597. |
| Qian Z. "Changes in assortative mating: the impact of age and education, 1970-1990." Demography, vol. 35, no. 3, 1998, pp. 279-92. |
| Blair, Sampson Lee and Zhenchao Qian. "Family and Asian Students’ Educational Performance: A Consideration of Diversity." Journal of Family Issues, vol. 19, 1998, pp. 355-374. |
| Qian Z. "Breaking the racial barriers: variations in interracial marriage between 1980 and 1990." Demography, vol. 34, no. 2, 1997, pp. 263-76. |
| Agadjanian V, Qian Z. "Ethnocultural identity and induced abortion in Kazakstan." Studies in Family Planning, vol. 28, no. 4, 1997, pp. 317-29. |
| Qian, Zhenchao. "Progression to Second Birth in China: A Study of Four Rural Counties." Population Studies, vol. 51, 1997, pp. 221-228. |
|
Jacobs, Jerry A. and Zhenchao Qian.
"The Mobility Patterns of Part-Time Workers." Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, vol. 15, 1997, pp. 29-56.
|
| Qian, Zhenchao and Samuel Preston. "Changes in American Marriage, 1972 to 1987: Availability and Forces of Attraction by Age and Education." American Sociological Review, vol. 58, 1993, pp. 482-495. |
2023-2028 Qian, Zhenchao (PI). 2023-2028. “Training in Demography.” T32 HD007338-36. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. $1,717,830.
2021-2024 Qian, Zhenchao (PI). “Union History and Midlife Health.” R03 AG073938-01. National Institute on Aging. $159,230.
2018-2023 Qian, Zhenchao (PI) and Michael White. 2018-2023. “Training in Demography.” T32 HD007338-31. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. $1,501,070.
2010-2012 Qian, Zhenchao (PI). “Changing Family Structures in America.” Russell Sage Foundation. $10,000.
2010-2013 Qian, Zhenchao (PI) and Matthew Painter. “Immigrant Wealth Accumulation.” NICHD R03. $148,059.
2004-2006 Jacobs, David (Principal Investigator) and Zhenchao Qian (Co-Investigator). July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2006. “Survival on Death Row: Exploring Individual, Conflict, and Political Explanations for Executions.” National Science Foundation. $151,333.
2002-2007 Qian, Zhenchao (Principal Investigator) and Daniel T. Lichter (Co-Investigator). May 2002-April 2007. “Union Formation and Assortative Mating Among U.S. Immigrants.” National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. $597,263
2001-2003 Lichter, Daniel T. (Principal Investigator) and Zhenchao Qian (Co-Investigator). “Families and Households in a Multi-Cultural Society.” January 1, 2001-- December 31, 2003. Russell Sage Foundation and Population Reference Bureau. $15,000.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | PhD | University of Pennsylvania |
| 1991 | MA | University of Pennsylvania |
| 1982 | BA | Shanghai College of Education |
2012- Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
2011- Elected Member, Sociological Research Association.
| SOC 1040 - World Population Problems |
| SOC 1872C - Race and Ethnic Relations, Identity, and Inequality |
| SOC 2020 - Multivariate Statistical Methods II |
| SOC 2230 - Techniques of Demographic Analysis |
| SOC 2960Y - Causal Analysis |
| SOC 2961C - Family Demography |
