Religious Conversations and Surface Acting as Predictors of Relational Uncertainty in (Dis)confirming Sibling Relationships

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined the associations among frequency and comfort of siblings’ religious conversations and their relational uncertainty (RU), as well as the degree to which the associations depended upon surface acting and sibling confirmation (i.e. acceptance and challenge). Participants included 218 young adult siblings who completed an online survey about the sibling with whom they were closest to in age. Results indicated that frequency and comfort of discussing religious topics were inversely associated with sibling RU. After controlling for similarity in religious affiliations and beliefs between siblings, regression models revealed significant two-way interaction effects between surface acting and frequency of discussing religion, as well as between confirmation and both frequency and comfort of discussing religion. Consequently, how family members talk about sensitive topics involving matters of identity divergence may be as important, if not more important, than the content of those conversations.