Longitudinal Linkages between Older and Younger Sibling Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Sibling Relationship Quality

Kirsten L. Buist,Hans M. Koot,Susan Branje,Marloes S. van Tergouw

doi:10.1007/s10964-019-01009-y

Abstract

The sibling relationship has an important impact on children’s emotional functioning, but it is yet unclear whether and how sibling relationship quality affects adolescent depressive symptoms over time. This study contributes to existing knowledge by examining the relative importance of three aspects of sibling relationship quality (i.e., support, conflict and power balance) on the one hand and sibling depressive symptoms on the other hand in predicting adolescent depressive symptoms over time. Additionally, this study examined whether these influence patterns were moderated by perceived sibling relationship quality and by dyadic gender composition. Across six annual waves, 412 Dutch adolescents (57% boys; Mage = 12.34 years) and their older siblings (47% boys; Mage = 15.36 years) reported on depressive symptoms and sibling relationship quality. Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that only sibling depressive symptoms and not perceived relationship quality predicted adolescent depressive symptoms one year later. This effect was not moderated by sibling relationship quality or gender composition. These results indicate that sibling depressive symptoms may be a risk factor for adolescent depressive symptoms.

Highlights

The sibling relationship has an important impact on children’s emotional functioning, as it is often one of the most long-lasting relationships throughout the lifespan and siblings spend considerable time together (Noller 2005)
If the results show that especially sibling depressive symptoms influence adolescent depressive symptoms, these should be the focus of interventions
The present study found that adolescent depressive symptoms were more strongly influenced by sibling depressive symptoms than by sibling relationship quality, and that these influences did not differ as a function of sibling relationship quality and dyadic gender combination, as discussed in more detail below

Summary

Introduction

The sibling relationship has an important impact on children’s emotional functioning, as it is often one of the most long-lasting relationships throughout the lifespan and siblings spend considerable time together (Noller 2005). The relationship between siblings is generally described as ambivalent due to the presence of positive (e.g., support) as well as negative characteristics (e.g., conflict and power imbalance) (Deater-Deckard et al 2002). The sibling relationship changes, in that it often becomes more intimate (McHale et al 2006) and more equal concerning power (Tucker et al 2010), and more conflictive (Campione-Barr and Smetana 2010). At the same time depressive symptoms increase during adolescence (Costello et al 2011), and these may be strongly influenced by family relationships (Cyranowski et al 2000). It is important to examine to what extent the sibling relationship influences depressive symptoms during adolescence

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion