Parental Differential Treatment Research Articles

Parental differential warmth, hostility, and sibling differences in internalizing and externalizing behavior problems: A meta-analysis.

Parental differential treatment (PDT) of siblings is associated with differences in children's behavioral adjustment. The current meta-analysis examined the extent to which associations between relative PDT and sibling differences in behavior problems differ by type of parenting behavior (i.e., differential hostility vs. differential warmth) and type of behavior problems (i.e., differential externalizing vs. internalizing behavior problems). In September 2021, we systematically searched APA PsycInfo and Web of Science, yielding 2,259 unique hits with 19 eligible publications reporting on 215 effect sizes from 13 unique samples. The overall association between relative PDT (i.e., receiving less warmth and more hostility than one's sibling) and sibling differences in behavior problems was small but significant. Associations were stronger for differential hostility compared to differential warmth and for differential externalizing compared to differential internalizing behavior problems. Particularly marked was the finding that siblings who received more hostility from their parents showed higher levels of externalizing behavior problems. Future research investing in further dismantling the association between within-family PDT and sibling differences in adjustment is warranted to better understand why parents treat siblings differentially and to guide family support initiatives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring Family Obligation as a Buffer Between Parental Differential Treatment and Sibling Hostility

High levels of between-sibling parental differential treatment (PDT) have been associated with several negative outomes, including externalizing behavior, emotional maladjustment, and depressive symptoms, as well as with hostility in sibling relationships. In contrast, high levels of family obligation have been associated with positive adolescent adjustment and family dynamics. Given the substantial risks associated with PDT and the benefits of family obligation for emotional health and family relations, we investigated family obligation as a potential buffer against the negative effects of PDT on sibling relationships. We hypothesized that 1) younger and older siblings experiencing higher levels of PDT would demonstrate greater sibling hostility, and 2) family obligation would buffer against these associations. Adolescent younger siblings (Mage = 12.1; 24 females) and their adolescent older siblings (Mage = 14.5; 21 females) participated in a collaborative problem-solving task, which was coded for directional expressions of hostility. Siblings also independently completed questionnaires on PDT and family obligation. Greater PDT was associated with more hostility expressed from younger sibling to older sibling, and a greater sense of family obligation buffered against this association. Greater PDT was also associated with increased hostility from older sibling to younger sibling, but no significant interaction effect was found with family obligation. Findings highlight the potential of family obligation to improve sibling relationships in the context of PDT and can inform future sibling research and family intervention work; the import of these findings is limited due to the homogeneous nature of the sample and we recommend inclusion of more diverse populations.

Parental differential treatment of siblings linked with internalizing and externalizing behavior: A meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis linked relative and absolute parental differential treatment (PDT) with internalizing and externalizing behavior of children and adolescents. Multilevel meta-analysis data represented 26,451 participants based on 2890 effect sizes coming from 88 sources, nested within 43 samples. Participants were between 3.18 and 18.99 years of age (Mage = 12.64, SD = 3.89; 51.31% female; 82.23% White; 54.68% from the United States). Less-favored treatment (relative PDT) was linked to more internalizing and externalizing behavior. Additionally, greater differences in parenting between siblings (absolute PDT) were linked to more internalizing and externalizing behavior. Some links were moderated by other factors. For example, some effects were stronger when PDT was reported by children, and others, when siblings were closer in age.

Childhood Parental Disfavoritism and Chinese Adults' Psychological Well-Being in Middle and Later Life: The Moderating Effect of Gender.

Parental differential treatment of children, particularly disfavoritism, has been found to detrimentally affect adult children's psychological well-being in the United States. However, no study has investigated the long-reaching influence of parental disfavoritism in China, where there is an absence of equal treatment norms. Drawing from theories of social comparison, life course, and gender dynamics in China, we tested how perceptions of childhood parental disfavoritism affect midlife and older Chinese adults' depressive symptoms, and how the effects differ by own and parent's gender. Random-intercept models were used based on a sample of 17,682 midlife and older Chinese adults, drawn from 5 waves of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Recollections of childhood parental disfavoritism were associated with higher depressive symptoms among Chinese adults. Perceptions of paternal disfavoritism predicted both men's and women's depressive symptoms, whereas perceptions of maternal disfavoritism predicted women's depressive symptoms only. Paternal disfavoritism was more detrimental than maternal disfavoritism, but only for men. Maternal disfavoritism was more detrimental for women than men. These findings shed light on the universality of the long-reaching detrimental effect of perceptions of parental disfavoritism across cultures as well as the unique gendered patterns in China shaped by patriarchy. Findings suggest that the implementation of Three-Child Policy in China should be accompanied with parental education programs involving fathers on equal treatment of children.

Chinese parents' marital and coparenting relationships, parental differential treatment of siblings, and adolescents' sibling relationships.

Parents' differential treatment of siblings has been understudied among sibling research in Chinese societies where the government ended its one-child policy. This study, using a three-wave longitudinal design, explored the associations among parents' marital and coparenting relationships, parental differential treatment of siblings, and adolescents' sibling relationships within a theoretical framework of a developmental cascade model of family influence. Adolescents (Mage = 12.88 years, SD = 0.76 at Time 1; 51.2% girls) and their mothers from 260 families in China participated in this research (first data collection in January 2018). Mothers completed questionnaires that assessed marital and coparenting relationship quality, and adolescents completed questionnaires that assessed their perceptions of parental differential treatment as well as sibling intimacy and conflict. The results, based on path analyses, revealed that marital satisfaction at Time 1 was positively associated with coparenting support at Time 2. Coparenting support at Time 2 was negatively associated with adolescents' perception of parental differential treatment at Time 3. Parental differential treatment at Time 3 was negatively associated with sibling intimacy at Time 3 but positively associated with sibling conflict at Time 3. These results are consistent with the developmental cascade hypothesis in that parent-parent subsystems influenced parental differential treatment of siblings as a parent-child subsystem, which in turn spilled over to create negative family processes that exacerbated adolescents' sibling subsystem quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Perceived Parental Differential Treatment and Sibling Relationships in Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the impact of perceived parental differential treatment (differential paternal control and affection, differential maternal control and affection) on sibling relationships (warmth, conflict, and rivalry) among adolescents. The theory of equity and social comparisons were included in the theoretical framework. The role of demographics was also assessed for the study variables. A correlational design with a purposive-convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from adolescents. A sample of 232 adolescents aged 18 to 24 years (M= 20.84, SD= 1.70) was taken from the main cities of Punjab, Pakistan. SIDE (Daniels & Plomin, 1985) and the ASRQ-S (Stocker et al., 2001) were the measures used in the study. Results revealed a positively related relationship between perceived maternal and paternal affection and sibling warmth and a negative relationship between perceived maternal and paternal control and sibling rivalry and conflict.

Young adults' retrospective reports of family cohesion, parental differential treatment, and sibling relationships

AbstractObjectiveUsing young adults' retrospective reports, the current study examines the moderating effects of parental differential treatment (PDT) on the association between family cohesion and sibling relationship quality during adolescence.BackgroundSibling relationships in adolescence carry great implications for individual development. However, little is known about the potential interactions between family cohesion and PDT on sibling affection and hostility.MethodRetrospective data were collected from 325 young adults (M = 19.50 years, SD = 1.25) who recalled family of origin experiences with parents and a target sibling closest to their age.ResultsFamily cohesion was positively associated with sibling affection and negatively associated with sibling hostility. Additionally, fathers' differential control attenuated the relationship between cohesion and sibling affection and both mothers' and fathers' differential affection attenuated the relationship between cohesion and sibling hostility.ConclusionFindings on the main effects suggest that perceived family cohesion is a crucial factor that promotes better sibling relationships (i.e., higher affection and lower hostility). However, offspring's perceptions of PDT can affect the relationship between family cohesion and sibling relationship quality, such that extreme levels of parents' (especially fathers') differential affection and control weaken the association. The significant moderation emerged with differences in parental sex (i.e., mother and father) and PDT dimensions (i.e., affection and control).ImplicationsTo help siblings engage in more affectionate and fewer hostile interactions, parents (especially fathers) should consciously work to provide equal treatment toward their offspring and work on providing more contextual information when they have to show differentiation.

Sibling differences and parents' differential treatment of siblings: A multilevel meta-analysis.

The current study used meta-analysis to ask whether age differences, sex differences, and family size are linked to differences in parental treatment, as well as whether effect-sizes were moderated by the way parental differential treatment (PDT) was measured, who reported on the PDT, and the domain of PDT. Between August 2015 and November 2020, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and PubMed Central were searched for articles relating to parental differential treatment; additionally, 13 sibling relationship scholars were contacted to collect unpublished analyses or unused data. Multilevel data came from 13,628 unique participants across 1,388 effect sizes nested within 66 sources (articles/raw data sets), nested within 23 unique samples (74% from North America; 26% from Western Europe). Multilevel meta-analysis conducted in R with the metafor package showed greater differences in parental treatment when siblings were further apart in age or a different sex. The main effects for age spacing, however, were moderated by several factors, particularly the domain of parenting. Specifically, age spacing was linked only to PDT based on control or autonomy granting, meaning when siblings were further apart in age, parents granted more autonomy to one sibling over another. Results were limited, however, by limited sample sizes at the sample level. Overall, findings suggest that parents may, in part, treat siblings differently because they are different to begin with. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for Chinese Parents’ Marital and Coparenting Relationships, Parental Differential Treatment of Siblings, and Adolescents’ Sibling Relationships

Supplemental Material for Chinese Parents’ Marital and Coparenting Relationships, Parental Differential Treatment of Siblings, and Adolescents’ Sibling Relationships

Relationship Between Hardiness and the Learning Adaptation of Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Teacher Support and the Moderating Role of an Only-Child Status

According to the Social Cognitive Theory and the perspectives of parental differential treatment, the current research proposed and verified a moderated mediation model to explore the mediating role of teacher support and the moderating role of only-child (OC) /non-only-child (NOC) status in the relationship between hardiness and college student learning adaptation. A questionnaire survey of 1138 Chinese college students was conducted using the hardiness scale, the learning adaptation scale, and the student perception of teacher supportive behavior questionnaire. The results revealed a significant positive effect of hardiness on college student learning adaptation. The mediation model analysis showed that teacher support had a complementary partial mediating role in the relationship between hardiness and college students’ learning adaptation. Furthermore, the moderated mediation model analysis suggested that OC/NOC status moderated the second half of this mediating relationship and indicated that teacher support had a stronger effect on the learning adaptation of college students with OC status than NOC status. The research results not only enrich our understanding of the internal influence mechanism of the relationship between hardiness and college students’ learning adaptation, but also broaden the research on the identity difference between OC/NOC status. Practical discussions and suggestions are proposed based on the results.

The family stress model and parents' differential treatment of siblings: A multilevel meta-analysis.

The family stress model (FSM) suggests that stress, particularly economic stress, hinders effective parenting. Expanding on the FSM, the present study examined not only the economic stress but also the general stress and several contexts that may promote stress-namely, physical health, mental health, socioeconomic status, employment status, and marital status. The present study also expanded the FSM to examine parenting of sibling groups. Ineffective parenting of sibling groups was conceptualized as greater parental differential treatment (PDT). A number of moderating variables were also considered. Multilevel meta-analysis models were used to test hypotheses. Across models, data came from 6,003 effect sizes, nested within 59 sources, nested within 16 unique samples (all coming from 8 published studies and 11 raw data sets). Results showed main effects for only parents' general stress and parents' mental health. More stress and poorer mental health were linked with greater amounts of PDT. Additionally, poorer physical health was linked to greater PDT but only when PDT involved positive parent-child interactions. As a whole, findings suggested that actual feelings of stress and psychological distress may show stronger links with PDT than contexts that merely have the potential to cause stress. Caution is warranted, however, as effect sizes were generally small and some models were based on predominantly Caucasian samples. Future research on the FSM and PDT should focus on actual experiences of stress and further consider the moderating role of domains of parenting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Parent-child personality similarity and differential autonomy support toward siblings.

Since parental differential treatment is related to more adjustment difficulties over and above main effects of parental treatment, it is important to understand under what conditions differential parenting is likely to occur. Using a within-family design, this study focused on between-sibling differences in parent-child personality similarity as a potential predictor of differential autonomy support from fathers and mothers. Longitudinal data (6 annual waves) of 497 target adolescents (56.9% boys, Mage at T₁ = 13.03), one of their siblings (N = 416, Mage at T₁ = 14.92), their fathers (N = 446, Mage at T₁ = 46.74), and their mothers (N = 495, Mage at T₁ = 44.41) were used. Parent-child personality similarity was determined based on distinctive profile correlations using the Big Five personality inventory. Structural Equation Modeling showed that the association between sibling differences in mother-child similarity and maternal autonomy support was positive and significant at the between-family level, and not at the within-family level. This means that, in families where one sibling was relatively more similar to the mother, the sibling with closer resemblance to the mother received relatively more autonomy support. No significant effects were found for fathers' differential autonomy support. The present study highlights the importance of considering parent-child similarity in personality for understanding differences between siblings in maternal autonomy support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A scoping review of the experiences and well-being of siblings of children with chronic kidney disease: implications for practice and research.

BackgroundChildren with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their families deal with challenging circumstances. While numerous studies have shown that both patients and parents in these families can experience a variety of challenges and concerns, the experience of siblings is less well understood. The focus of this scoping review was on research addressing the experiences and well-being of siblings of children with CKD.MethodsFollowing scoping review methodology, five databases were searched for peer-reviewed research or graduate theses published in English that addressed the experience or well-being of siblings aged 25 years or younger (biological, step or foster) of children with CKD; studies from any year or location were included. Two independent coders identified relevant studies. Findings were summarized and synthesized.ResultsOf the 2990 studies identified, 19 were chosen for full text review and eight fit the inclusion criteria. Five of the selected studies were qualitative, two were quantitative and one used mixed-methods. Four broad themes across studies were identified including family functioning, significant relationships, psychological well-being, and coping strategies. While there was some convergence between qualitative and quantitative findings, these linkages were weak.ConclusionsSeveral unmet needs of siblings were uncovered by this review. Sibling perceptions of differential parental treatment and desire for information about CKD emerged as priorities for practice. Using a strength-based approach in order to better understand sibling experiences and well-being was also recommended for future research.Graphical abstractA higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information. Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00467-022-05559-5.

The Effects of Parenting and Temperament Similarity Among Adolescent Siblings on Positive Family Relationships

The detrimental effects of parental differential treatment have been shown in previous research, but fewer researchers have pointed out that differential treatment does not always lead to negative outcomes. Thus, the present study examines the role of temperament similarity on the association between parenting similarity and positive family relationship qualities over 1 year in 145 adolescent sibling dyads (Mfirst−born = 14.97 and SD = 1.68 years; Msecond−born = 12.20 and SD = 1.92 years). Latent moderator structure models (LMS) showed that a higher level of parenting similarity was related to more positive family relationships when siblings were more similar in their temperaments; however, a lower level of parenting similarity was related to more positive relationship qualities with family members 1 year later in the context of less sibling temperament similarity.

Marital relationships spillover and parental differential treatment of siblings: A multilevel meta‐analysis

AbstractFounded in family systems theory, the spillover hypothesis suggests that marital relationships are linked to parenting. The current study used meta‐analysis to extend this literature and examine links between marital positivity and marital negativity with absolute levels of parental differential treatment (PDT) of siblings. Multilevel data included 2575 effect sizes nested within 45 sources (articles/raw datasets), nested within 12 unique samples. Lower marital positivity and greater marital negativity were linked to greater differences in treatment. Those main effects, however, were moderated by several source and effect size characteristics. For example, links were stronger when effect sizes were based on differential positive interactions. Caution is warranted in most cases; effect sizes were generally small. Findings, however, suggest that parents should be aware of how they may treat their children differently in connection with poorer marital relationships. Future research on PDT should include a greater focus on the domains of differential treatment.

ОСНОВНЫЕ НАПРАВЛЕНИЯ СИБЛИНГОВЫХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ

An overview of the areas of sibling research that laid the foundation for the modern understanding of sibling issues is presented. Attention is focused on the importance of sibling relationships for personal development, socialization and adaptation, and on the existing shortage of relevant work at the same time. The main stages of the development of sibling theory in their continuity are considered, starting from the first studies devoted to the search for a connection between the order of birth and achievements and dated to the end of the 19th century, to the term “individual environment” developed by the genetics of behavior in the second half of the 20th century. It emphasizes the role of A. Adler, who has made sibling a central feature of family life and personal development and has long determined the future direction of empirical family research. It shows a gradual shift in the interest of researchers from studying the influence of birth order, gender, and age intervals between siblings on personal characteristics. In this connection, an analysis of the nature of sibling relations on the basis of reciprocity and complementarity, undertaken by Dunn, is given. Early works on the jealousy and rivalry of children in the family, the study of the impact of parental differential treatment on them, as well as the influence of child characteristics on siblings in families with sick children are considered.

Maternal differential treatment and child socioemotional competencies: A multi-informant longitudinal study of Chinese families

Research based on Western communities indicates that parents’ differential treatment may be linked to their children’s psychological and behavioral problems. Very little is known, however, about the potential implications of parental differential treatment for child socioemotional competencies or in non-Western communities. Focusing on families from Hong Kong, China, this multi-informant study tested the longitudinal associations of mothers’ differential warmth and conflict with their children’s socioemotional competencies and examined whether sibling dyad gender composition and age spacing moderated these associations. On two occasions about 12 months apart, data were collected from two children in each of 189 families and the mothers and class teachers of these children. At Time 1, older and younger children averaged 10.06 ( SD = 1.07) and 7.82 ( SD = 0.95) years of age, respectively, and 31% of older and 48% of younger children were boys. At Time 1, mothers provided demographic information and rated their warmth and conflict with each of their two children. At Times 1 and 2, teachers rated children on their emotion regulation, peer exclusion, and prosocial behaviors, and children rated their own empathy. Multilevel models revealed that, controlling for demographic factors, average mother-child relationships, and prior levels of competencies of children and their siblings, children who received less favorable treatment relative to their siblings exhibited decreases in socioemotional competencies over time. Sibling dyad gender composition and age spacing did not emerge as significant moderators, however.

Parental Differential Treatment of Siblings and Fairness Perception: Moderating Role of Personality

Family harmony is likely to be challenged if children perceive that their parents do not treat them and their siblings fairly. The direction of parental favor is related to an individual’s perception of fairness but does not fully explain it. The current study investigated whether personality traits moderated the relationship between parental differential treatment and fairness perception. A total of 762 undergraduates (aged between 18 and 25) completed the Big Five Inventory and nominated a ‘target sibling’ whom they considered as they completed the Sibling Inventory of Differential Experience and rated the fairness of parenting. Regression analyses showed that slightly more affection towards the participant and slightly more control over the target sibling were evaluated as most fair, whereas extremely unequal parental treatment (regardless of who was favored) was evaluated as very unfair. Of the Big Five personality traits, agreeableness, extraversion, and openness moderated the fairness perception of parental differential affection but not parental differential control. Favored individuals who were highly agreeable and open to novelty were less likely to rate affection preference as fair than favored individuals who were of low agreeableness and low openness. Also, individuals high on extraversion rated both extreme parental favor and disfavor as less fair than individuals who were low on extraversion. The current study highlights the importance of personality in the fairness perception of parental differential treatment. Implications for parents and family practitioners are provided.

The Impact of Differential Parenting: Study Protocol on a Longitudinal Study Investigating Child and Parent Factors on Children's Psychosocial Health in Hong Kong.

Adolescents who believe that their parents treat them differently from their siblings have poorer psychosocial well-being than otherwise. This phenomenon, which is known as parental differential treatment or PDT occurs in up to 65% of families. Past studies have examined socio-demographic variables (e.g., child gender, age, and birth order) as predictors of PDT, but these immutable characteristics do little to inform interventions and help these adolescents. Hence, this study extends past research by investigating links among parent empathy, parent perception of PDT, child perception of PDT, child perception of fairness and child well-being (self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and trust in the relationship with parents). Furthermore, this study tests whether adolescent personality (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism), child empathy, and child perception of fairness moderate these links. This study will utilize a two-wave longitudinal design with a 1-year lapse. Data will be collected from 760 Chinese adolescents studying from Secondary One to Secondary Three in 18 schools in Hong Kong and from their parents. We test our theoretical model via a multilevel structural equation model (ML-SEM). This study both addresses (a) theoretical debates about relations among empathy, PDT, fairness, and psychosocial well-being and (b) focuses on modifiable factors and behaviors, to inform future interventions, such as parent education.

More data, more problems: Analytical complications of studying differential family experiences over time: Reply to Laird (2020).

The use of differences scores to assess agreement/disagreement has a long and contentious history. Laird (2020) notes, however, that developmentalists have been particularly resistant to discontinue the use of difference scores. One area of developmental science where difference scores are still in regular use is that of parental differential treatment (PDT) or sibling differential experiences. In this response we argue that, in the case of our particular article (Campione-Barr, Lindell, & Giron, 2020), while the use of difference scores may not have been ideal, they were utilized for several reasons, including the history of the field in operationally defining within-family differential experiences through the use of discrepancy scores, as well as the complicated analytical nature of research examining more than one dyad within the same family. A discussion of whether or not analytical strategies need to change in this literature is important for the field to move forward. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).