Sibling Support During Post-Divorce Adjustment: An Idiographic Analysis of Support Forms, Functions, and Relationship Types

Abstract

This research examines social support from siblings following parental divorce, based on retrospective interviews and ratings obtained from adult children of divorced parents. Sibling relationships were diverse in the extent, form, and direction of support, as reflected in seven types of sibling support relationships (separates, pals, allies, opponents, parent, protector, encourager). Availability/companionship with siblings predicted improved adjustment to divorce, whereas multiple dimensions of maternal support predicted adjustment. Qualitative analyses suggested that the company of a sibling provided reassurance and promoted resilience, even in the absence of explicit support messages or tangible assistance. Supportive siblings appeared to buffer children by providing a sense of continuity and shared experience during family reorganization. Sibling support typically served a complementary role to parental support. However, siblings sometimes provided more extensive and direct compensatory support in situations where competent parental support was unavailable. Such assistance helped children to weather especially stressful family breakups but did not mitigate bad feelings about the divorce. The results illustrate the situational and relational nature of effective social support in families.