Emerging adult siblings' relational entitlement and conflict: The moderating effects of financial dependence on parents

Abstract

AbstractPast literature has documented a linkage between entitlement and interpersonal tension, primarily in romantic relationships. However, there is a lack of research investigating the impact of entitlement on sibling relationships. Guided by the agency model of narcissism and adult development literature, this study conceptualized relational entitlement as one form of state narcissism and examined the actor and partner effects of relational entitlement on perceived sibling conflict as well as the moderating effects of financial dependence on parents. Participants were 136 emerging adult sibling dyads (older sibling Mage = 22.20, SD = 2.35; younger sibling Mage = 19.54, SD = 1.55). Results indicated that younger siblings' (not older siblings') relational entitlement was positively associated with both their own and their siblings' perceptions of conflict. Moreover, younger siblings' financial dependence buffered the actor association between younger siblings' relational entitlement and perceived conflict. These findings suggest that emerging adult siblings' developmental status of financial dependence provides a nuanced context for understanding the actor and partner effects of relational entitlement on sibling conflict. The discussion focuses on the role of self‐inflated social comparison in emerging adult sibling conflict and how the developmental characteristics of older and younger siblings shape the above associations.