Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose was to test a new evidence‐based online preventive intervention designed to help parents improve the sibling relationships of their 4‐ to 8‐year‐old children.BackgroundFew evidence‐based resources exist to address parents' concerns about fostering positive sibling relationships. To address this need, the emotion‐focused online program placed parents in the role of educator, preparing them to teach their children social and emotional competencies shown in previous research to promote prosocial sibling interaction.MethodEighty‐six mothers provided assessments of children's sibling relationship quality, child and parent emotion regulation abilities, and coparenting quality prior to and following completion of four online lessons. A randomly assigned wait‐list control group of mothers (n = 49) provided comparable assessments.ResultsRepeated measures multivariate analyses of covariance revealed that, following program completion, participants perceived their children to demonstrate greater sibling warmth and less agonism and rivalry. Effects were sustained at 3 months. Mothers also reported increased abilities to regulate their own emotions as well as greater collaboration and support in their coparenting relationship.ConclusionResults support the effectiveness of the online More Fun with Sisters and Brothers Program for Parents for enabling mothers from diverse international communities to support positive sibling relationships.ImplicationsIncreasing access to evidence‐based tools for strengthening sibling relationships can enable parents to support these vital lifelong bonds.

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