Investigating Elderly Sibling Types, Relational Maintenance, and Lifespan Affect, Cognition, and Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine elderly sibling types' use of relational maintenance behaviors and their impact on relational quality (i.e., the frequency and positivity of sibling affect, behaviors, and cognition). Participants were 184 individuals older than 65 years of age who reported on their relationship with a living sibling. Results indicated that (a) elderly siblings use (in descending order) the positivity, tasks, conflict management, assurances, advice, networks, and openness relational maintenance behaviors with their siblings; (b) elderly sibling types differ in their use of relational maintenance behaviors and (c) most of these behaviors are related positively to perceptions of relational quality. Future research should examine elderly sibling types from multiple sibling perspectives.