Sibling Dyads Research Articles

The experiences of children with Williams syndrome and their nondisabled siblings of their relationship

AbstractObjectiveThis study explored sibling relationships from the perspective of children with Williams syndrome (WS) and their nondisabled (ND) siblings.BackgroundWS, a genetic condition with a profile that can include intellectual disabilities, hypersociability and anxiety, might be predicted to impact sibling relationships, but this has not been qualitatively explored from the children's perspective.MethodsThirty‐nine children (6–17 years; 20 male, 19 female) participated: 20 sibling dyads in which one child had WS and the other was ND (one child with WS did not participate). Children were interviewed about experiences of their relationship. Data were analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsSiblings described multifaceted relationships, in which love and positivity were overtly evident and embedded in the reciprocity of sibling expertise and support. Children skillfully navigated the spaces and boundaries of their relationship across home, school, and friendship contexts, with parent support. ND siblings' knowledge of WS supported interactions, relationships, and advocacy, but some children with WS felt their sibling lacked knowledge of the challenges of WS.ConclusionsThe WS profile was woven through multidimensional relationships.ImplicationsFindings have implications for how parents are supported to help siblings navigate relationships and learn about WS, and how schools support WS sibling relationships.

Sibling socialization of alcohol use during adolescence: An integrated model of sibling influence processes.

Research demonstrates that siblings, especially older siblings, make unique contributions to adolescents' substance use above and beyond shared genetics and shared parenting. Older siblings' influences on younger adolescent siblings' alcohol use operate through both direct and indirect pathways. Using three waves of longitudinal data, the present study tested an integrated model of sibling influence processes focused on the linkages between older adolescent siblings' earlier alcohol use and younger adolescent siblings' later alcohol use. Longitudinal study using data collected from families on three occasions: Time 1 (March 2019-February 2020), Time 2 (July 2020-February 2021) and Time 3 (November 2021-February 2022) via online surveys. Families resided in five midwestern states in the US (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin). Participants included two adolescent-aged siblings and one parent from 682 families (n = 2046 persons). Alcohol use by adolescents and parents was assessed at Time 1; younger siblings' social alcohol expectancies and perceptions of modeling were measured at Time 2; and younger siblings' alcohol use was measured at Time 3. Older siblings' earlier alcohol use predicted younger siblings' later drinking both directly [b = 0.15, standard error (SE) = 0.04, β = 0.17, P < 0.001] and indirectly through younger siblings' social alcohol expectancies [δ = 0.02, SE = 0.008, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.003, 0.03]. The direct (δ = -0.14, SE = 0.07, 95% CI = -0.27, -0.01) and indirect (δ = 0.03, SE = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.0001, 0.06) links were further moderated by younger siblings' reports of sibling modeling, but not by gender composition of the sibling dyad or the interaction of modeling and gender composition. Older siblings' alcohol use appears to influence younger siblings' later alcohol use directly, as well as indirectly through younger siblings' expectancies about alcohol. The global context of the sibling relationship, in this case sibling modeling, may further amplify or dampen these pathways of influence.

Daily sibling interactions among latino children in middle childhood: An examination of familism values and sibling roles

Siblings are children’s most frequent daily companions in middle childhood and these relationships are theorized to be dynamic in nature but are rarely studied in a way that captures their day-to-day variation. Guided by cultural-ecological and relationship perspectives, this study examined the role of older siblings’ familism values and caring roles as predictors of average levels of and day-to-day variation in siblings’ positive and negative exchanges across seven days and tested moderation by child sex. Participants were older ( M = 10.6 years; SD = 0.39; 46.6% female) and younger siblings ( M = 8.2 years; SD = 1.07; 47.2% female) in 307 Latino sibling dyads recruited from 11 elementary schools in the southwestern U.S. Data were collected via home visits with parents, and in afterschool sessions and seven nightly phone calls with siblings. Analyses were conducted using a random variability model in a multilevel structural equation modeling approach. Findings revealed consistent associations between older siblings’ familism values and sibling roles and both average levels of and intraindividual variation in older siblings’ positivity and negativity. For younger siblings, some findings were moderated by child sex with more consistent links to younger sisters’ positivity and negativity than younger brothers’. Discussion highlights how older siblings’ cultural values and roles shape both overall levels of and day-to-day fluctuations in siblings’ exchanges and offers future directions of research.

Sibling disclosure and adolescents' coping from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study.

The extraordinary disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic created a unique context to investigate the links between family communication and adolescent adjustment. Given that widespread stay-at-home orders increased time spent in the family setting, the present study examined reciprocal links between older and younger adolescent siblings' disclosure toward each other and concurrent and prospective links between those disclosures and their own and their siblings' coping from before to during the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were two adolescent-aged siblings (older siblings: 51% female, M = 15.67 years; younger siblings: 48% female, M = 13.14 years) and one parent (85% mothers, M = 45.15 years) from 682 families (N = 2,046) in five Midwestern states in the United States. Participants completed web-based assessments on three occasions: Time 1 (March 2019-February 2020), Time 2 (May 2020-June 2020), and Time 3 (July 2020-February 2021). Using structural equation modeling, results revealed that the prospective reciprocal linkages between older and younger siblings' disclosures were often moderated by the gender composition of the sibling dyad. Further, older and younger siblings' disclosures were both concurrently associated with their own coping during the pandemic but not prospectively associated with later perceived coping. There were mixed findings regarding the actor and partner associations between siblings' disclosure and adolescents' perceived coping. Results emphasize the complexity and bidirectional nature of sibling disclosure and the potential protective effects of disclosing to siblings in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Qualitative Exploration of Sibling Relationship Quality Among Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) places children at risk for negative developmental outcomes. However, many IPV-exposed (eIPV) children exhibit resilience, which is promoted by protective factors including positive, caring relationships. Sibling relationships can buffer eIPV children from poor adjustment outcomes but have scarcely been studied. This study explored how eIPV children in middle childhood understood and made meaning of their sibling relationships. Six eIPV sibling dyads were recruited for individual interviews and participation in a video-recorded play session. A descriptive phenomenological analysis was conducted using both forms of data. Five main themes of eIPV sibling relationships emerged and were presented through textual and structural descriptions. Implications for practice and policy and areas for future research are discussed.

Kinship assessment and insights into reproductive behaviour of the Critically Endangered green sawfish Pristis zijsron in Western Australia

Abstract In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms were used to investigate kinship and philopatry for the Critically Endangered green sawfish, Pristis zijsron, in Western Australia. Sampling was conducted in an important nursery area: the Ashburton River estuary and adjacent tidal creeks. Kinship was inferred from the genotypes of 104 sawfish sampled between 2011 and 2014 (n = 31), and 2020 and 2022 (n = 73). The total number of dams contributing across all sites and time periods was estimated to be between 50 and 56. Fifty‐two full sibling dyads, 90 half sibling dyads and 72 third‐degree dyads were detected, involving 58, 67, and 46 P. zijsron, respectively. Of these, 34 half sibling dyads were related maternally and 56 related paternally, including multiple maternal and paternal half siblings pupped in different years, suggesting both female and male philopatry. Catch data indicated that two groups of maternal half siblings were littermates, demonstrating multiple paternity. A high degree of relatedness was found across the study area, with 88% of P. zijsron related to at least one other individual up to the third‐degree. Evidence for female philopatry in P. zijsron highlights the importance of protecting nursery areas for this species. The occurrence of philopatric behaviour in male and female P. zijsron suggests that dispersal might be limited in both sexes of this species, highlighting the need to investigate the amount of genetic diversity and incidence of inbreeding within remaining populations.

Behavioral pathways from sibling relationships in adolescence to romantic partnerships in adulthood.

Sibling relationships in adolescence provide rich and relevant socializing opportunities for developing early adult romantic relationships, but much less is known regarding the effect of siblings on future romantic partnerships. Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we investigated the association between observed positive behaviors (warmth, support, positive communication), sibling pairs during adolescence (7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grades), and the same observed behaviors between adult romantic partners nearly two decades later (M age = 31 years old). In structural equation models (SEMs), we tested four dyadic pathways of interest: (1) individual behavioral continuity; (2) evocative partner effects; (3) sibling modeling; and (4) sibling-to-partner matching. In multiple group analyses, we also investigated gendered socialization effects for different sibling dyads (i.e., brother-brother; sister-sister; and mixed-sex sibling pairs). Results showed strong continuity from adolescent behavior toward their sibling to the same behavior toward their romantic partner in early adulthood, but there was no evidence for sibling modeling effects nor for sibling matching. We also found significant differences between sister-sister sibling dyads compared to brother-brother and mixed-sex sibling dyads for the evocative pathway. Findings highlight the "long view" of positive adolescent behavior in sibling relationships for shaping future romantic partnerships in adulthood.

Emerging adult siblings' relational entitlement and conflict: The moderating effects of financial dependence on parents

AbstractPast literature has documented a linkage between entitlement and interpersonal tension, primarily in romantic relationships. However, there is a lack of research investigating the impact of entitlement on sibling relationships. Guided by the agency model of narcissism and adult development literature, this study conceptualized relational entitlement as one form of state narcissism and examined the actor and partner effects of relational entitlement on perceived sibling conflict as well as the moderating effects of financial dependence on parents. Participants were 136 emerging adult sibling dyads (older sibling Mage = 22.20, SD = 2.35; younger sibling Mage = 19.54, SD = 1.55). Results indicated that younger siblings' (not older siblings') relational entitlement was positively associated with both their own and their siblings' perceptions of conflict. Moreover, younger siblings' financial dependence buffered the actor association between younger siblings' relational entitlement and perceived conflict. These findings suggest that emerging adult siblings' developmental status of financial dependence provides a nuanced context for understanding the actor and partner effects of relational entitlement on sibling conflict. The discussion focuses on the role of self‐inflated social comparison in emerging adult sibling conflict and how the developmental characteristics of older and younger siblings shape the above associations.

Sibling comparisons, sibling relationship quality, and perceived sport competence in young athletes

Siblings are overlooked, yet potentially meaningful social agents in youth sport. To better understand the role of siblings in youth sport, we examined the association between sibling sport-referenced comparisons, relationship qualities, and perceived sport competence. The tendency to make sibling comparisons was expected to be positively related to sport competence perceptions and this association was further expected to be moderated by markers of sibling relationship quality. Participants were 47 sport-involved sibling dyads that included older siblings (25 female, 22 male, Mage = 10.94 ± 1.49 yrs) who were predominately first-born children (83%) and their younger siblings (23 female, 24 male participants, Mage = 8.45 ± 1.01 yrs) who were mostly second-born children (79%). Participants completed established assessments of comparison tendency, sibling relationship qualities, and sport competence perceptions. Analyses revealed a three-way interaction between birth position (younger or older sibling), tendency to compare, and sibling warmth predicting sport competence (p < .05). Younger siblings with a greater tendency to make sibling comparisons and higher warmth perceptions reported higher sport competence perceptions. The findings suggest that sibling-based comparisons and relational warmth may be salient for younger siblings in gauging their competence, whereas older siblings utilize alternative sources of competence information.

A quasi-experimental study in sibling dyads: differential provocation-aggression patterns in the interactive taylor aggression paradigm.

The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) is a well-established tool for assessing provocation-induced reactive aggression. We introduce an interactive version, the iTAP, with real-time opponents across 60 trials, including five simulated provocation trials in the middle. In this quasi-experimental study, we evaluate the effectiveness of the paradigm to investigate reactive aggression in interacting participants. The design allows us to employ the TAP in settings of high familiarity dyads, addressing an existing gap. Twenty-eight healthy same-sex adult sibling pairs (N = 56) competed against each other in the iTAP, exemplifying high familiarity through their social and emotional co-development, and mutual knowledge. Additionally, we explore naturally arising aggression types in terms of sibling pairs' reciprocal aggression trajectories across trials. Lastly, we investigate situational and personal variables influencing reactive aggression on the iTAP within high familiarity dyads. In line with non-interactive TAP versions, siblings employed a global "tit-for-tat" strategy in response to heightened provocation: Aggression increased during manipulated trials of increasing provocation, persisted during real interaction and declined in the final block, suggesting sibling co-regulation which was underscored by the convergence in within-pair aggression level. We found no gender differences in these dynamics but a trend for higher initial aggression levels within brother pairs and higher responsiveness to increased provocation in sister pairs. Overall aggression levels were related to situational variables including trial outcome (lost, won, and tie), Further, siblings' state anger correlated positively with aggression scores on the iTAP. Aggression was not reliably related to personal variables predicting aggression. We identified subgroups of sibling pairs with distinct provocation-aggression patterns related to differences in reported behavioral motivations and emotional states. The results highlight situational over personal variables in determining aggressive behavior on the task in this sample of healthy adults. While no direct link between sibling relationship quality and aggression was found, the overall behavior was likely influenced by the familiarity between siblings and the specific context of their relationship. The iTAP demonstrates promise as a tool for studying reciprocal aggressive behavior. The emergence of different interaction patterns underscores the ecological validity introduced by the interactive context, which complements the standard versions of the TAP.

Child hyperactivity, mother-child negativity, and sibling dyad negativity: A transactional family systems approach.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most common mental disorders in children and adolescents. While most studies in this field have focused on the genetic and neurobiological underpinnings of the disorder, research focusing on the family environment as a critical context contributing toward the manifestation and maintenance of child ADHD symptoms is still less extensive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine longitudinal and bidirectional associations between child hyperactivity, mother-child negativity, and sibling dyad negativity. Data were analyzed of up to 4,429 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a nationally representative prospective birth cohort study in the United Kingdom, at three time points (T1-T3, children aged 4, 7, and 8 years). At baseline (T1, n = 4,063), the child sample (98.8% White ethnic background) composed of 51.6% males. Child hyperactivity symptoms, mother-child negativity, and sibling dyad negativity were examined based on maternal reports. The random intercepts cross-lagged panel model was adopted to parcel out between-family differences from within-family fluctuations and test bidirectional associations. On the between-family level, families with higher child hyperactivity reported higher mother-child and sibling dyad negativity. On the within-family level, unidirectional spillover processes between sibling dyad negativity and mother-child negativity as well as between mother-child negativity and child hyperactivity emerged. Future work in the area of child hyperactivity should implement a transactional family systems approach incorporating both parent-child and sibling subsystems. Interventions to reduce negative interactions between parents and hyperactive children may offer promising improvements in child symptoms and thus alleviate family burden. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Sibling Violence and Position in Sibling Dyad in a Sample of Adolescents: How Does It Relate to Self-Esteem?

(1) Background: Research regarding sibling violence is still scarce, although it is the most common type of intrafamily violence. Every sibling’s position in the sibling dyad seems to influence this type of violent conduct since every status has its characteristics. Siblings involved in aggressive behavior seem to be described as having low self-esteem. This study intends to test the predictive effect of self-esteem, sibling position and sex on sibling violence development. (2) Method: The sample consists of 286 students, aged between 12 and 17 years, from both sexes. A social demographic questionnaire and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales—the Portuguese Sibling Version (CTS2-SP) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used for data collection. (3) Results: The results show an association between self-esteem in sibling violence, as well as an association between sibling position on negotiation and sexual coercion’s perpetration and victimization. Sex also predicts the negotiation of psychological aggression’s perpetration and psychological and physical aggression’s victimization. (4) Discussion: the results will be discussed according to the attachment theory, considering the importance of affective bonds with siblings as adaptive development facilitators.

Concordance in parent-child and sibling actigraphy-measured sleep: Evidence among early adolescent twins and primary caregivers

Study objectivesGrowing evidence suggests concordance between parent and youth sleep. However, no known study has simultaneously examined concordance among siblings’ sleep patterns. This study investigated daily and average concordance in (1) parent-youth and (2) sibling actigraphy-measured sleep, as well as the degree to which sibling concordance varied by sleeping arrangements. Methods516 twin siblings (Mage = 10.74, 51% female; 30% monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs, 37% same-sex dizygotic pairs (DZ-ss), 33% opposite-sex DZ pairs (DZ-os)) and their primary caregivers (Mage = 40.59, 95% female) wore wrist-based accelerometers for 7 consecutive nights to measure sleep duration, efficiency, midpoint time, and latency. Primary caregivers also reported on demographics, youth pubertal status, and room-sharing. Two-level multilevel models were estimated to examine daily and average concordance in parent-youth and sibling sleep. ResultsDaily concordance was observed between parent and youth sleep duration and midpoint; average concordance was found for sleep duration, midpoint, and latency. Within sibling dyads, daily and average concordance was evident across all sleep parameters (duration, efficiency, midpoint, latency), with generally stronger concordance patterns for MZ than DZ twin pairs, and for twins who shared a room with their co-twin. ConclusionsThis is the first known study to document concordance among parent-youth and siblings’ actigraphy-measured sleep within the same study (i.e., triad). Our findings can help inform the development of family-level interventions targeting daily and overall sleep hygiene.

Supplemental Material for Child Hyperactivity, Mother–Child Negativity, and Sibling Dyad Negativity: A Transactional Family Systems Approach

Supplemental Material for Child Hyperactivity, Mother–Child Negativity, and Sibling Dyad Negativity: A Transactional Family Systems Approach

The Brother–Sister Sibling Dyad as a Pathway to Gender-Based Violence Prevention: Engaging Male Siblings in Family-Strengthening Programs in Humanitarian Settings

Household violence poses a significant threat to the physical and mental health of adolescent girls. In conflict-affected communities, increased stresses to safety, security, health, and livelihoods may heighten this risk. While it is widely evidenced that the caregiver-child relationship can increase or protect against girls’ risk of violence, less is known about the role of male siblings. Sibling Support for Adolescent Girls in Emergencies (SSAGE) used whole-family support programming to synchronously engage adolescent girls, their male siblings, and their caregivers in conflict-affected communities in Jordan and Niger, using gender-transformative approaches to explore the impacts of gender norms, power, and violence and encourage support and emotional connection. We conducted qualitative research activities, including focus group discussions, participatory group activities, and in-depth, paired, and key informant interviews with 469 SSAGE participants and program facilitators to explore SSAGE’s impact on the male-female sibling dyad in both settings. The multi-stakeholder team used a collaborative thematic analysis approach to identify emergent themes. Findings suggest that the inclusion of male siblings in family strengthening programs may have a positive impact on factors related to girls’ protection, with research participants discussing decreased perpetration of physical and verbal violence by male siblings, increased equity in household labor between siblings, and improved trust and mutual support among siblings. These changes were facilitated by improved communication and interrogation of positive gender identities. In humanitarian settings, interventions that support more gender-transformative, egalitarian, and emotionally effective relationships between male-female siblings can work towards improving girls’ protective assets. More research on the impact of this relationship on girls’ experience of immediate and long-term experience of violence is needed. In settings where gender power dynamics among male-female siblings are less salient, other relationship dyads should be explored.

Sibling Training Hypothesis: Alcohol Use Behaviors Among Three Adolescent Siblings

ABSTRACT The sibling training hypothesis posits that younger siblings will come to resemble older siblings but has not been tested across three adolescent sibling dyads. In paired t-tests, sibling training was assessed across three sibling dyads (N = 102 families, 306 adolescents, Add Health data set, Waves 1 and 2). Evidence for drinking training appeared in the oldest/middle sibling dyad but not in dyads involving the youngest sibling. In latent congruence modeling, significant predictors of sibling drinking similarity included drinking by friends in the oldest/middle and oldest/youngest dyads. Research beyond the study of a single sibling dyad in a family is needed to better understand the generalizability of social influences, how they come about as well as consequences for adolescents and their families.

Sibling estrangement in adulthood

Whereas interest in adult sibling relationships has been growing, we are not aware of any quantitative studies focusing on sibling estrangement (that is, lack of contact or emotional closeness). This gap in the literature seems unfortunate, because estrangement in close family relationships has been suggested to be momentous for family functioning and individuals’ well-being. Drawing on four waves of the German Family Panel (pairfam; n = 5,729), covering a 6-year observation period, we therefore assess respondents’ estrangement from up to four siblings in adulthood, focusing on the predictive role of core structural parameters of sibling dyads (especially genetic relatedness) and disruptive family events (particularly parental separation/divorce or death). Whereas 28% of respondents in our sample experienced at least one episode of estrangement from any sibling, estrangement occurred multiple times in only 14% of sibling dyads. Moreover, results derived from discrete-time event history models indicate (a) that genetic relatedness is the single most important risk factor, albeit strongly mediated by childhood co-residence, and (b) that sibling relations tend to become more “vulnerable” over the life course, when adverse family events accumulate.

What If You Can't Ask Them? Psychometric Properties of a Behavioral Assessment of Sibling Relationship Quality.

Building on studies of preferences for social interaction in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) we sought to provide a way for siblings with ASD to express their perspective about the quality of their sibling relationships. We developed a behavioral assessment of sibling relationship preference (Sibling Relationship Assessment [SRA]) and examined the psychometric properties of test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and convergent validity. The SRA was feasible to administer and revealed expected differences between sibling dyads with one sibling with ASD compared to typically-developing sibling dyads. We found strong positive correlations for inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability and convergent validity. The SRA provides a way to assess the perspective of the sibling with ASD that taps one characteristic, preference for spending time with one's sibling, of the quality of sibling relationships.

14.4 Review of Impact on Siblings of Youth with ASD and Protective Interventions

In youth with ASD, family dynamics including functioning, support, and knowledge about ASD play a role in determining outcomes. One relationship that could be a potential focus in therapy is that of typically developing siblings of children with ASD. It is important to understand how the sibling dyad may enhance functioning in the child with ASD, as well as in adjustment, self-concept, and mental health in the neurotypical sibling. This presentation will explore current knowledge about the impact on siblings as well as developing evidence-based practices on protective interventions.

Predictors of Suicide Attempts of Individuals with Autism and Their Siblings.

The occurrence of mood- and anxiety-related conditions among family members of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increases the risk of suicide attempts and has also created assessment and treatment issues for clinicians and parents. Recorded rates of mental health disorders comorbid with suicide attempts among individuals on the spectrum range from 29% to 52%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of predictors of suicide attempts among sibling dyads (pairs of siblings in which one sibling is on the autism spectrum). Growing evidence in the literature indicates a link between a diagnosis of autism and mental health. A web-based survey was used to collect data from individuals on the spectrum and their siblings. A sample of 144 individuals was finalized for the analyses. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictors of suicide attempts in the sample. Depression, anxiety, sexual orientation, and marital status were all used as predictors in the logistic regression analyses. Both levels of anxiety and sexual orientation were found to be significant predictors for suicide attempts. Recommendations for future research, assessment, and treatment are presented.