Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale Research Articles

Construct validity of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale measuring adult sibling relationship quality where one sibling has intellectual or developmental disabilities

The Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) has been validated in samples where neither sibling has intellectual or developmental disabilities. We sought to examine the construct validity of the LSRS with a sample of adult siblings of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Adult siblings of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (N = 646) completed Adult LSRS items measuring Affect, Behavior, and Cognitions. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) were employed to examine the construct validity of the LSRS in this sample. The initial CFA fit for a three-factor model was inadequate (CFI = 0.86, TLI = 0.84, RMSEA = 0.10, x 2 = 1752.97, df = 249). Further analyses using EFA suggested alternative two-factor and three-factor models. CFA models based on these potential factor solutions also had inadequate fit. These findings indicate that the LSRS may not be an appropriate measure of sibling relationships where one sibling has intellectual or developmental disabilities. Future research may need to utilize sibling relationship measures developed specifically for siblings where one has intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Sibling Dynamics, Marital Satisfaction, and Wellness in Married Turkish Adults

Research on sibling dynamics and their outcomes in married adults is limited. The primary objective of this study was to assess how relationships with same and different-sex siblings explain the state of wellness and marital satisfaction in adulthood. Furthermore, the study aimed to evaluate the effects of early childhood sibling relationships on adult well-being and to assess the meditative role of adult sibling relationship characteristics on this effect. A total of 344 married adults participated in the study, 237 of whom (68.9%) were women. The Adult Sibling Relationship-Short Form (ASRQ-SF), Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS), Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI), and Wellness Scale for Emerging Adults (WSEA) indices were used to assess study variables. Results indicated that intimacy between different-sex siblings (brother-sister) predicted marital satisfaction. Furthermore, conflict between same-sex siblings (sister-sister) and intimacy between different-sex siblings (sister-brother, brother-sister) predicted wellness. Additionally, recalled childhood sibling relationship characteristics had significant effects on wellness and that sibling relationship characteristics in adulthood partially mediated this relationship. These results are considered within the framework of sibling relationship development within Turkish culture.

Psychometric Properties of the Sibling Attachment Inventory in Mexican Young Adults.

The aim of this work was to adapt and validate the Sibling Attachment Inventory (SAI) in Mexican young adults and analyze its psychometric properties. Using an Internet-based survey, data were collected from 307 (64.5% female) Mexican young adults university students (aged 18–30). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to determine the factor structure of the revised Mexican version of the Sibling Attachment Inventory (SAI-RMx). Convergent and predictive validity were verified by carrying out correlations with the parent form of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). Results indicated that the SAI-RMx presents good levels of internal consistency and a monodimensional structure, also providing evidence for convergent, predictive, and construct validity. Furthermore, secure attachments were linked with high levels of self-esteem, as well as with high levels of life satisfaction. The SAI-RMx is expected to be a reliable instrument for measuring the global level and the three components of secure attachment between siblings in the young adult’s Mexican population.

The Reliability and Validity of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) With an English-Speaking Young Adult Sample

The Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) is the most comprehensive self-report questionnaire available to evaluate the quality of sibling relationships based on feelings, behaviors, and opinions across child and adult periods of development. To the best of our knowledge, the psychometric properties of the LSRS have not been assessed or reported in an English-speaking population since this assessment tool was introduced 20 years ago. The current study examined the internal reliability and construct validity of the LSRS with a sample of 370 young adults living in the United States. Results indicated that the original six-factor model of the LSRS is plausible with minor modifications to measure the sibling relationship quality and with its close correlation between factors and scales.

Italian Adaptation and Validation of the Sibling Attachment Inventory

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Sibling Attachment Inventory (SAI) to the Italian context and to examine its psychometric properties.MethodUsing an Internet‐based survey, data were collected from 500 Italian young adults (aged 18–30). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out to explore the factorial structure of the SAI. Correlations with the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale were carried out to verify convergent and predictive validity.ResultsThe instrument had good levels of internal consistency and a monodimensional structure, also providing evidence for validity. By comparing three models proposed in the literature, the results indicate that the three‐factor model had the best fit indices. Further, secure attachments were linked to high levels of self‐esteem and life satisfaction.ConclusionThe Italian version of the SAI has good psychometric properties, suggesting its ability to assess young adults' sibling attachment in the Italian cultural context. It is expected to be a useful self‐report measure in research aimed to study individual differences in young adults' sibling attachment.

Adult siblings of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities: Sibling relationship attitudes and psychosocial outcomes

There is still little research on the relationships between adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their typically-developing siblings, despite the importance of these ties for siblings’ psychological well-being, especially in terms of depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction. In this study, the sibling relationship attitudes of adult siblings of people with (N = 133) and without (N = 140) intellectual and developmental disabilities were explored. Feelings, behaviors, and thoughts related to sibling relationships were measured using the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale; depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II; anxiety was measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory; and life satisfaction was measured using the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Results indicate that higher levels of positive sibling relationship attitudes are negatively related to levels of depression and anxiety, and positively related to levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, adult siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities show less positive sibling relationship attitudes, higher levels of depression and anxiety, and lower levels of life satisfaction. Finally, group membership, indirectly through sibling relationship attitudes, was related to depressive and anxious symptoms, as well as to life satisfaction. Implications for future research and policies are discussed.

Cumulative Risk Factors and Family Relationship Quality in Understanding Turkish Emerging Adults’ Resilience

As a developmental turning point, emerging adulthood has been a recent focus for researchers investigating both resilience and psychopathology. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of negative experiences and the nature of the relationship with parents and siblings in the resilience of college students as emerging adults. The study group included Turkish college students as emerging adults (199 females and 101 males) who lived apart from their parents, had at least one sibling and had experienced at least one negative event. Data were collected from Child and Youth Resilience, Adverse Life Events Form, Parent–Adolescent Relationship Scale, and Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to determine the extent to which the independent variables explained the resilience variance. The results revealed that negative life experiences were significant factors in explaining resilience. Moreover, neither a positive nor a negative relationship with the mother had an effect on explaining the resilience, while a positive relationship with the father was an important factor in explaining resilience. Meantime, the role of protective factors in terms of family relationships and the quality of sibling relationships sustained in this period were significant relational strengths for resilience. All these results are considered to be significant contributions to the culturally meaningful family functionality and the resilience of college students as emerging adults.

An Investigation of the Connection between Parenting Styles, Birth Order, Personality, and Sibling Relationships

An Investigation of the Connection between Parenting Styles, Birth Order, Personality, and Sibling Relationships Michele Van Volkom1, Danielle Dirmeitis, Samantha Cappitelli Abstract The purpose of the current study was to examine the potential effects of parenting styles and birth order on personality and sibling relationships. Two hundred forty-seven participants completed a demographics questionnaire as well as the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) to measure affect, behavior, and cognitions associated with the sibling relationship in both childhood and adulthood. They also completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI) as well as reported on which parenting style their mother and father engaged in while they were growing up. Birth order had no significant effect on any of the aspects of the sibling relationship, but did show differences in conscientiousness and neuroticism. Other significant results were the finding that father’s parenting style impact all six areas assessed by the LSRS. Authoritative fathers led to more positivity in assessing the relationship with the sibling the participants felt closest to in their lives. Mother’s parenting style affected participants’ view of the sibling relationship similarly, but only for adult and child cognitions. Implications of these findings will be discussed, including support for the notion that authoritative parenting results in the most positive outcomes for offspring. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jpbs.v7n1a7

The Reliability and Validity of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale in a Turkish Emerging Adult Sample

The Reliability and Validity of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale in a Turkish Emerging Adult Sample

Associations between Personality Traits and the Quality of Sibling Relationships

Sibling relationship is one of the longest relationships in human life and play a major role since some skills such as nurturance, caretaking, and meeting their own needs and those of other people around them (e.g. spouse, children, and parents) are fostered through sibling interaction. Several studies have been conducted among adults to identify the factors associated with sibling relationships. Despite its seeming importance, only a few researchers have focused on the role of personality type in sibling relationships. The current study examined whether Big-Five personality traits were associated with the quality of sibling relationships among young adults. Participants included 552 university students living in the United States of America (54% female and 46% male) aged 18 to 25 years. Participants completed the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale and the Big Five Inventory. A series regression analyses revealed that all personality traits were significantly associated with the quality of sibling relationships after controlling participant’s gender and gender constellation. Of the personality traits, agreeableness was the strongest predictor of quality of sibling relationships. The current study’s strengths and limitations and the implications future research are discussed.

Young adults’ sibling relationships: Italian adaptation and validation of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale

To deepen our understanding of young adults’ sibling relationships in the Italian context, this study examines the psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation and validation of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) in a sample of 350 Italian university students (68.6% females, 31.4% males; ages 19–30 year, M = 23.6, SD = 3.2). Confirmatory factor analysis showed the expected six-factor structure and a close correlation between factors and scales. Internal consistency was adequate and correlation analysis with the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ) confirmed the theoretical relations among the constructs. The findings confirm the transcultural validity of the LSRS. Moreover, results are consistent with research findings, indicating that women show a more positive attitude toward sibling relationships, especially when reporting their relationship with sisters, older siblings show a more positive attitude toward sibling relationships, and perception of current maternal and paternal partiality is related to negative attitudes toward sibling relationships.

The attitudes of typically developing adolescents towards their sibling with autism spectrum disorder.

BackgroundUnderstanding how the cognitive, emotional and behavioural components of sibling attitudes interact with one another at various stages of a sibling’s lifespan will allow clinicians to provide better support to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. However, no research exists which focusses on describing the attitudes of adolescent siblings of children with ASD within the South African context towards their sibling with an ASD. The primary aim of this study was to investigate how typically developing adolescents recall their past attitudes and describe their present attitudes towards their sibling with an ASD.MethodsThirty typically developing adolescents who have siblings with ASD were selected to complete the survey instrument, the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale, using a cross-sectional design.ResultsResults indicate that the measure has internal consistency within this sample. Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests were used to test for significant differences between the mean values for the two self-reported time periods. Friedman analysis of variances (ANOVAs) was used to test for significant differences in the three components of attitudes, namely affect, behaviour and cognition. Results indicate that participants held more positive attitudes towards their siblings with ASD as adolescents compared with when they were younger and that adolescents rated their current emotions towards and beliefs about their sibling with ASD to be more positive than their current interaction experiences.ConclusionAs siblings’ attitudes appear to change over time, clinicians should use a lifespan approach to sibling attitudes when designing and implementing supports for siblings of children with ASD.

Intra‐family stressors among adult siblings sharing caregiving for parents

The aim of this study was to describe a Neuman Systems Model-guided study of perceptions of family stressors experienced by adult siblings who share caregiving for their parents and the influence of these stressors on adult siblings' relationships. The task of providing informal care for disabled parents is often shared by adult siblings. Family stressors experienced as part of caregiving may affect the sibling relationship. A mixed-method study design was used. Data were collected during 2013-2014 from 84 adult sibling caregivers. Seventy-two caregivers provided quantitative data for the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale and the Zarit Burden Scale and 79 provided qualitative data for the open-ended question. Adult siblings experienced mild-to-moderate levels of burden from family stressors when they share parental caregiving. The amount of burden from intra-family stressors was negatively related to the adult sibling relationship. Beneficial and noxious stressors were evident in the participants' responses to an open-ended question. The health of the parents affected the lives of adult siblings in both negative and positive ways. Although the majority of the adult siblings expressed a willingness to care for their parent(s) in an attempt to reciprocate the care, they had received from them, challenges emerged from dealing with family stressors.

Sibling Relationships in Emerging Adulthood: Associations with Parent–Child Relationship

Conflicting theories (e.g., compensatory and congruence) describe the effect of the parent–child relationship on sibling relationship quality. By identifying specific parenting factors (i.e., Care and Control) and specific aspects of the sibling relationship (i.e., Affect, Behaviors, and Cognitions), the current study sought to examine the factors related to either theory in order to better understand the sibling relationship in emerging adulthood. Data were collected from 575 undergraduate students. A factorial MANOVA tested the relationship between parenting style and sibling relationship quality, measured by the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale. Results primarily supported the congruence hypothesis and revealed that parental Care and Control are important variables in understanding the sibling relationship. Additionally, the findings were consistent across racial/ethnic groups.

A Study on Sibling Relationships, Life Satisfaction and Loneliness Level of Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between sibling relationships, life satisfaction, and the loneliness level of adolescents with regard to gender, order of birth, and sibling dyads. The study group consisted of 382 (209 female, 173 male) students in total, who were studying at high schools (regular high school, vocational high school, Anatolian High School, private colleges) selected from Karsiyaka District in the city of Izmir, Turkey. The data collection tools used were the Life Span Sibling Relationship Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale, and Ucla Loneliness Scale III. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used for the analysis of data. The results from the research demonstrated that gender, birth order, and sibling dyads led to significant differences in life satisfaction, level of loneliness, and sibling relationships. In line with the results obtained from the research, it could be recommended that sibling relationships in the Turkish culture should be examined in terms of various age groups and different variables, and their psychosocial consequences should be subject to research.

An adaptation, validity and reliability of the lifespan sibling relationship scale to the Turkish adolescents

The purpose of this study is to adapt the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) developed by Riggio (2000) to Turkish. The scale with its original form in English consists of 48 items in total. The original scale was translated into Turkish by three instructors who are proficient both in the field and the language. Later, the original and Turkish form of the scale was submitted to expert opinion and the final version was issued with necessary arrangements made in line with their suggestions. In the next stage, the Turkish adaptation of the LSRS and the original scale were administered to 42 prospective English teachers in two sessions separated by an interval of two weeks, and correlations between the two administrations were calculated. The Turkish version of the LSRS was administered to a total of 804 students studying at the 9th, 10th and 11th grades at four different high schools in KarAŸA±yaka district of Izmir. The six factor structure of the LSRS was tested by means of factor analysis method. For test- retest reliability, the scale was administered to 152 persons at an interval of three weeks and the correlation coefficient between the two administrations was calculated. Furthermore, the internal consistency of the scale was evaluated by calculating Cronbach Alpha coefficient and composite reliability coefficient. The results of the research reveal that the six factor structure of the LSRS has been verified and could be used in measurement of the quality of sibling relationships in adolescents. Key words: Sibling relationships, adolescence, confirmatory factor analysis.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale

The sibling relationship and its potential impact on neurodevelopment and mental health are important areas of neuroscientific research. Validation of the tools assessing the quality of the sibling relationship would be the first essential step for conducting neurobiological and psychosocial studies related to the sibling relationship. However, to the best of our knowledge, no sibling relationship assessment tools have been empirically validated in Korean. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS), which is one of the most commonly used self-report questionnaires to assess the quality of the sibling relationship. A total of 109 adults completed a series of self-report questionnaires including the LSRS, the mental health subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 version 2 (SF36v2), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC-SDS). The internal consistency, subscale intercorrelations, one-week test-retest reliability, convergent validity, divergent validity, and the construct validity were assessed. All six subscale scores and the total score of the LSRS demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.85-0.94) and good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.77-0.92). Correlations of the LSRS with the SF36v2 mental health score (r=0.32, p=0.01) and with the SLS (r=0.27, p=0.04) supported the good convergent validity. The divergent validity was shown by the non-significant correlation of the LSRS with the MC-SDS (r=0.15, p=0.26). Two factors were extracted through factor analysis, which explained 78.63% of the total variance. The three Adult subscales loaded on the first factor and the three Child subscales loaded on the second factor. Results suggest that the Korean version of the LSRS is a reliable and valid tool for examining the sibling relationship.

Structural Features of Sibling Dyads and Attitudes Toward Sibling Relationships in Young Adulthood

This study examined sibling-dyad structural variables (sex composition, age difference, current coresidence, position adjacency, family size, respondent and/or sibling ordinal position) and attitudes toward adult sibling relationships. A sample of 1,053 young adults ( M age = 22.1 years) described one sibling using the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale. Position adjacency and family size were related to attitudes toward sibling relationships, including more positive recalled childhood sibling relationships in adjacent dyads and larger families and less positive sibling relationships recalled from childhood and in adulthood experienced by individuals with only one sibling. Results for respondent and sibling ordinal position were consistent, with individuals in the youngest-of-two ordinal position and those describing eldest siblings reporting less positive attitudes toward adult siblings. Implications for future research on the quality of adult sibling relationships throughout the life span are discussed.

Relations Between Parental Divorce and the Quality of Adult Sibling Relationships

Two theoretical approaches make opposite predictions concerning the effects of parental divorce on sibling relationship quality. From a social learning perspective, via modeling the individual learns negative patterns of interpersonal relations through the experience of parental conflict and divorce, which negatively affects relationship quality throughout the life span. A social support approach argues that sibling relationships may serve as a buffer to shield the individual from negative interactions between parents, perhaps resulting in closer, more intimate sibling relationships. Two hundred sixty-four college students described one of their sibling relationships using the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS; Riggio, 2000), a standardized measure of attitudes toward the sibling in childhood and adulthood. Results indicated that young adults who experienced parental divorce during later childhood or adolescence experienced significantly fewer positive feelings toward the sibling in adulthood, and recalled fewer positive feelings, beliefs, and behaviors toward the sibling in childhood compared to those who experienced parental divorce earlier in childhood and young adults from married families.

Measuring Attitudes toward Adult Sibling Relationships: The Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale

Based on research noting the importance of sibling relation-ships throughout the lifespan and grounded in basic research on attitudes structure, a self-report instrument called the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) was developed. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the LSRS. A sample of 711 participants completed the LSRS, which measures three dimensions of the sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood: frequency and positivity of behavior toward the sibling, affect toward the sibling, and beliefs about the sibling and the sibling relationship. Results suggested that the LSRS possesses good psychometric properties, including high internal consistency of all six subscales and the total instrument, as well as evidence supporting a coherent factor structure and stability of responses over time. Significant correlations with social support, overall relation-ship satisfaction, closeness of the sibling relationship, the degree to which the sibling served as a role model, and a measure of various sibling relationship qualities supported the construct validity of the LSRS. Lack of correlations between the LSRS, social desirability, and theoretically unrelated scales demonstrated discriminant validity. Correlations with personality traits and psychological well-being indicated that satisfactory sibling relationships were associated with emotional adjustment. The utility of the LSRS for use in future research is discussed.