Sibling Relationship Quality Research Articles

Explaining Differences Between Sibling Relationships in Schizophrenia and Nonclinical Sibling Relationships.

BackgroundGood sibling relationships in adulthood are known to be a protective factor for mental health. The quality of these relationships is influence by the sibship’s inherent characteristics (e.g., birth order, number of brothers and sisters, sex composition, age gaps). The present study explored whether these same determinants can help to explain how individuals experience their relationship with a sibling who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.MethodA total of 374 adults completed the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire, a scale that probes the quality of these relationships on three dimensions: warmth, conflict, and rivalry. We also collected sociodemographic data and information about family structure from each of the participants. Participants were divided into two matched groups: nonclinical sibling group (n = 187) or schizophrenia sibling group (n = 187). Regression analyses were conducted to extract possible predictors of sibling relationship quality for each group. Further regression analyses then focused exclusively on relationships with an ill sibling, in order to study the role of disease-related variables in explaining each of the three dimensions.ResultsResults showed that sociodemographic and family structure data explained a significant proportion of variance in the sibling relationship, but solely for nonclinical siblings. When participants had a sibling with schizophrenia, we found that disease-related variables (symptom severity, frequency of treatment) also had to be included to predict the conflict dimension.ConclusionsOur results suggest that feelings of conflict experienced by the schizophrenia sibling group were fueled by the symptoms the ill person displayed. Healthy brothers and sisters probably have only a poor understanding of these symptoms. This could be improved by supporting them and helping them learn more about the disease. Future research will have to prove that providing such support for siblings does indeed improve the quality of their sibling relationships and, by so doing, enhance the wellbeing of both members of a sibling dyad.

Jealousy Links Comparisons with Siblings to Adjustment among Emerging Adults

ObjectiveTo explore the correlates and implications of sibling jealousy during emerging adulthood.BackgroundRooted in research and theory on parental differential treatment (PDT) and social comparisons, we expected that more frequent social comparisons between siblings—specifically, PDT as well as upward comparisons (“my sibling is better off than I am”) and downward comparisons (“I am better off than my sibling”)—are positively linked to sibling jealousy, which, in turn, is positively related individual and relational maladjustment.MethodParticipants included 454 young adults (M = 22.44, SD = 1.50 years of age) who participated in Internet‐based surveys recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk.ResultsSocial comparisons between siblings generally predicted feelings of sibling jealousy, which, in turn, were positively related to young adults' depressive symptoms and sibling conflict. Although PDT was salient in the lives of these emerging adults, siblings' other social comparisons were more strongly linked to their internalizing symptoms and sibling relationship qualities.ConclusionThese findings fill a gap in knowledge about the nature and implications of sibling relationships during emerging adulthood and clarify the links between young adults' cognitions (PDT, social comparisons), affective states (jealousy), and behaviors (depressive symptoms, sibling relationship qualities).ImplicationsSibling relationships should be reflected on more broadly across the life course because family and sibling processes permeate the lives of individuals well after moving away from their family of origin. In particular, it is important for those who work with young adults, including practitioners, to consider the implications sibling relationships have for individual and relational adjustment during emerging adulthood. This includes focusing on mitigating the negative implications of sibling comparisons and sibling jealousy, which continue into emerging adulthood, and ultimately may enhance young adults' emotional and behavioral well‐being.

Sibling relationships in older adulthood: Links with loneliness and well-being.

Researchers have documented associations between family relationships and a variety of well-being outcomes. Yet, sibling relationships, the longest lasting relationships in most people's lives, have received very little research attention beyond young adulthood. The goals of the current study were to: provide descriptive information about sibling relationships in later adulthood, investigate predictors of individual differences in sibling relationship quality, and examine associations among sibling relationship quality, loneliness, and well-being in later adulthood. The sample included 608 older adults (329 men, 279 women) who were 64.6 years old (SD = 4.58) on average. Participants provided self-report data about their relationships and well-being. Results showed that older adults reported high levels of sibling warmth and low levels of sibling conflict and parental favoritism. Sister-sister pairs had warmer sibling relationships than other gender-compositions. Sibling conflict and parental favoritism were positively associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and loneliness. Sibling warmth was negatively associated with loneliness. Loneliness partially mediated the associations between sibling relationship quality and well-being. Results from this study highlight the importance of sibling relationships in older adults' health and well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

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.

Self and sibling care attitudes, personal loss, and stress-related growth among siblings of adults with mental illness.

Although sibling ties are typically among the longest lasting family relationships, relatively little is known about how adult siblings navigate family caregiving when a brother or sister has a serious mental illness. The present study examined the role of primary caregiver status, perceived sibling illness severity, sibling relationship quality, and self and sibling caregiving attitudes in understanding reports of personal loss and stress-related personal growth among siblings of adults with serious mental illness. Online surveys were completed by 226 adult siblings (141 women; 85 men; mean age = 34 years; SD = 9.05). Results suggest that well siblings' reports of self and sibling caregiving attitudes significantly differed as a function of primary caregiver status (i.e., sibling, parents, or others as primary caregiver or no caregiver). Sibling caregiving attitudes differentially predicted well siblings' experience of personal loss and stress-related growth, regardless of demographics and primary caregiver status, perceived sibling illness severity, and sibling relationship quality. Greater ambivalence about providing care to their sibling with mental illness was associated with adults' reports of greater personal loss while higher levels of sibling balanced care priorities were significantly related to higher levels of personal growth. Greater self-care attitudes were significantly related to lower levels of both personal loss and personal growth for well siblings. Understanding sibling caregiving attitudes has important implications for research and interventions with families coping with mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

The quality of the relationship between typically developing children and their siblings with and without intellectual disability: Insights from children's drawings

The current study examined the relationships of typically developing (TD) children with siblings with and without intellectual disabilities (ID), as expressed in TD children's drawings and questionnaires answered by TD children and their mothers. It also examined group differences in the sibling relationships, as well as the associations between having a sibling with or without ID and sibling relationships, and TD children's social-emotional adjustment. Participants were mothers and their TD children (8–13 years). Some had ID siblings ID (N=28); others had TD siblings (N=31). Sibling relationships were examined via mothers' and target children's completion of questionnaires, and objective visual indicators (location, size, distance) and observed content-based indicators (support, investment, presence of parents) of children's drawings were assessed following the art-based phenomenological analytic approach. Mothers reported on children's social-emotional adjustment. Findings indicated differences in sibling relationships, including higher levels of positive relationships for children with ID siblings. Children's drawings also showed positive relationship aspects for these children. Sibling relationship qualities were significantly associated with children's adjustment. Children's drawings may be a useful data gathering tool to deepen our understanding of unique aspects of sibling relationships.

Sibling Relationships, Personality Traits, Emotional, and Behavioral Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study focused on parents’ perceptions of the quality of sibling relationship and its association with some behavioral and emotional characteristics of the typically developing sibling. The participants were parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing siblings. The sample size was 43. The group comprised 14 fathers (32.6%) and 29 mothers (67.4%) aged 33–53 years (M=43.56; SD = 5.23). The parents completed measures of siblings’ emotional and behavioral difficulties, siblings’ personality, and sibling relationships and their impact on families and siblings. The results showed that behavioral difficulties such as emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer relationship problems were significantly associated with negative sibling relationships—characterized by rivalry, aggression, avoidance, and teaching behavior toward the brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder. The implications are that sibling-focused interventions should focus on improving negative sibling relationships to reduce the impact on the difficulties of the typical development of the sibling of both genders and shape the content and delivery framework accordingly. This can be done by providing skills and approaches for enhancing sibling relationships so both parties benefit.

Love Them and Hate Them: The Developmental Appropriateness of Ambivalence in the Adolescent Sibling Relationship

AbstractThe quality of sibling relationships has important implications for each sibling’s development, and not always in the expected ways, because both conflict and intimacy are associated with both positive and negative developmental outcomes. Additionally, these relationship qualities do not occur in isolation since sibling relationships are known as the quintessential love–hate relationship. The ambivalence (i.e., coexistence of positive and negative feelings) siblings experience toward one another during childhood and adolescence and the prevalence of this feeling make the sibling relationship unique. Ambivalence in the sibling relationship during adolescence is developmentally appropriate and may benefit individuals throughout life. In this article, we argue that adolescence is the tipping point in the sibling relationship that sets the stage for how healthy and engaged, or distant and uninvolved, relationships with siblings become in adulthood.

Familism, sibling relationship qualities, and sibling sex constellation as predictors of alcohol use among Mexican-origin adolescents.

Sibling relationship qualities and traditional family values (i.e., familism) are contextual factors relevant for early substance use risk among Mexican-origin adolescents. Yet limited research has examined whether familism moderates the effects of sibling relationship features on alcohol use. The present study examined whether familism enhanced or reduced the effects of sibling intimacy, negativity, and sibling deviance on later alcohol use, also testing whether sibling sex constellation (sisters, brothers, mixed) modified the patterns of influence. We analyzed two waves of data (N = 404) from the California Families Project, a longitudinal study of Mexican-origin youth. Using zero-inflated Poisson models, we examined unique and intersecting prospective influences of age 14 sibling contexts and familism on the likelihood of and degree of engagement in alcohol use at age 16. Results indicated a complex interplay of sibling features, familism values, and alcohol use patterns. Familism moderated the effects of sibling intimacy on later alcohol use patterns. For those with lower familism, increasing intimacy was associated with higher probability of any use, but decreasing degree of use (especially for brother pairs and sister pairs). Among those with higher familism, increasing intimacy predicted reduced probability of any use, but increases in the degree of use (for sister and mixed pairs). More sibling negativity was related to reduced alcohol use probability for brothers, and increased alcohol use in mixed sibling pairs. Sibling deviance was associated with greater age 16 alcohol use. This study highlights cultural considerations for including siblings in substance use prevention programs for Mexican-origin youth. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Siblings of children with Williams syndrome: Correlates of psychosocial adjustment and sibling relationship quality

BackgroundPrevious research has examined adjustment in parents of children with Williams syndrome (WS), but little is known about sibling outcomes. AimsTo explore sibling adjustment and relationship quality, and their demographic, psychological and behavioural phenotypic correlates from the perspective of caregivers and siblings in families of children with WS. Methods and proceduresForty-one caregivers of children with WS participated in this questionnaire study on the adjustment and relationship quality of the siblings. In 31 of these families, self-report data were also provided by the siblings themselves. Data were also gathered on potential correlates, including anxiety and social functioning in the child with WS, caregiver mental health, and sibling social support. Outcomes and resultsSibling adjustment was similar to population norms, though significantly increased caregiver-reported emotional difficulties were found. Siblings reported greater behavioural, emotional and relationship difficulties than caregivers perceived them to have. Some significant associations were found between the behaviour of the child with WS, sibling behaviour problems and sibling relationship quality. Conclusions and implicationsA picture of relatively positive sibling adjustment and relationships emerged, but findings of individual differences and some emotional difficulties emphasise the need for an individualised approach to support in families of children with WS.

Comparison of Quality of Sibling Relationship between Mentally Challenged Children and Normal Siblings across Birth Order and Gender

Comparison of Quality of Sibling Relationship between Mentally Challenged Children and Normal Siblings across Birth Order and Gender

Quality of sibling relationship and parental differential treatment in a sample of Portuguese adolescents

Os irmãos são extremamente importantes na vida do adolescente. Com este estudo tivemos por objetivo explorar de que modo estão relacionados a vinculação entre irmãos, o tratamento parental diferenciado e o uso de táticas resolução de conflito no relacionamento entre irmãos. Numa amostra de 192 adolescentes portugueses, 64.6% do sexo feminino, com idades compreendidas entre os 11 e os 16 anos, aplicou-se o Inventário de Vinculação na Adolescência (versão irmãos), as Escalas de Táticas do Conflito Revisadas (versão irmãos) e o Inventário de Experiências Diferenciadas entre Irmãos. Os resultados mostram que um tratamento parental igualitário está associado à maneira positiva de resolver os conflitos entre irmãos; o sexo masculino relatou maior distanciamento entre irmãos do que o sexo feminino, e uma relação negativa entre irmãos parece influenciar a ocorrência de violência entre estes. Este estudo enfatiza a importância de pais e profissionais de saúde promoverem precocemente a proximidade entre irmãos.

만 3세 유아의 형제관계 구성변인 및 형제관계의 질과 또래 유능성과의 관계

만 3세 유아의 형제관계 구성변인 및 형제관계의 질과 또래 유능성과의 관계

Perpetration of sibling aggression and sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood

AbstractThis study examined how emerging adults' perpetration of aggression toward a sibling closest in age was longitudinally associated with their sibling relationship quality. Emerging adults (N = 143; Mage = 19.62; 70% female) completed surveys online or by mail at two time points, 4 years apart. Of emerging adults, 25% perpetrated aggression against their closest‐in‐age sibling. Perpetration of sibling aggression was predictive 4 years later of less sibling warmth, involvement, and emotional help. None of the interactions with gender and sibling gender was significant. This study's findings demonstrate the importance of examining the consequences of perpetration of aggressive behavior toward a sibling for sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood.

Rethinking Leisure Time Use Metrics: Greater Diversity in Shared Sibling Leisure is Associated with Higher Relationship Quality during Emerging Adulthood.

Leisure diversity-the total number of unique leisure categories shared within a sibling dyad-may vary according to sibling characteristics (e.g. sibling gender, age difference) and predict sibling relationship quality. Using triangulated lists, brief narratives, and focus groups, we constructed a taxonomy of shared sibling leisure in emerging adulthood and then calculated individual leisure diversity scores. The sample (N=185) included college-attending emerging adults with an average age of 20.1 years old (35.7% female). Taxonomic analysis suggested 19 categories of shared sibling leisure. ANOVAs indicated differences by dyadic gender composition in endorsement rates of select leisure categories and average levels of leisure diversity (lowest for mixed gender dyads). Greater shared leisure diversity was associated with higher levels of affective (sister-sister dyads) and cognitive relationship quality (sister-sister and mixed gender dyads). The association of leisure diversity with sibling relationship quality was strongest for sister-sister dyads and not significant for brother-brother dyads. Sibling dyads that include a sister are more likely to be impacted by level of shared leisure diversity. The results of this study introduce leisure diversity as a metric for quantifying sibling leisure and support its potential as a means for understanding and impacting sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood.

The moderating role of gender in siblings of adults with intellectual disabilities

Siblings play an important role in psychological and relational development in the lifecycle, especially if the family includes brothers or sisters with intellectual disability. The main objective of this study was to examine whether the relationships experienced by siblings of people with intellectual disability (ID-sibs) and siblings of people with typical development (TD-sibs) influence their ways of coping with stress and anxiety level, with particular emphasis on gender differences. The participants were 187 adults, of whom 104 (55.6%) were females aged 18 to 76 years (M = 29.42; SD = 11.93). Of our sample, 51.9% (N = 97) had a sibling with an intellectual disability and 48.1% (N = 90) had a sibling with typical development. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire that assessed demographics, sibling-relationship quality, anxiety, and coping orientations to problems experienced. The results show that women report a higher quality of relationship with ID-sibs compared to men and to women who have TD-sibs. The results further indicate that women with ID-sibs had higher levels of anxiety and used Transcendent-Oriented coping strategies more frequently. Lastly, gender moderated the relation between relationship quality and coping strategies in diverse ways in the two groups considered. The implications of the overall results are that sibling-focused interventions should focus on improving negative sibling relationships in order to reduce the impact of difficulties on TD siblings of both genders and that the content and delivery framework of interventions should be shaped accordingly.

Correlates of current caregiving among siblings of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) grow older, siblings are likely to become caregivers for their brothers and sisters with IDD. Thus, it is important to identify the correlates of sibling caregiving to facilitate transitions to caregiving roles. This study involved the secondary analysis of a national data set of 429 adult siblings of individuals with IDD. Current sibling caregiving was positively correlated with sibling relationship quality, sibling advocacy and future planning, maladaptive behaviours of individuals with IDD, and family size. Current sibling caregiving was negatively correlated with parent caregiving abilities and functional abilities of individuals with IDD. Further, among siblings who provided care, the level and nature of sibling caregiving were negatively correlated with parent caregiving abilities. The results identify the correlates of current caregiving among siblings of individuals with IDD. More research is needed to understand current sibling caregiving.

Quality of sibling relationship and family functioning in Greek families with school-age children

AbstractThe aim of the current study is to examine the quality of sibling relationships in relation to family functioning in Greek families with typically developing school-age children. The sample: 251 intact Greek families with two children (251 parents — 1 parent participated from each family — and 251 children). Research instruments: (a) the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales III (FACES III; Olson, 1986), administered to both parents and children), (b) the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ; Furman& Buhrmester, 1985); and (c) the family constellation: number of children, birth order, gender and socioeconomic level. According to the findings, the quality of a sibling relationship is associated with family cohesion and adaptability. Regarding children’s gender, the Warmth/Closeness scale is lower in families with children of different gender compared to families with children of the same gender. Regarding birth order, first-born children report higher levels of cohesion (ideal and actual), as well as higher Warmth/Closeness (children and parents), in comparison to the second-born children. Regarding parental educational level, parents and children report a higher level when it comes to ideal family and cohesion type (ideal level), as well as higher Warmth/Closeness (parents) when at least one of the parents has a university education background.

Imitation as a Learning Strategy during Sibling Teaching

ABSTRACTThe sibling relationship represents a unique bond characterized by a high degree of closeness and intimacy, which fosters teaching and learning. Two studies investigated associations between sibling-directed teaching, imitation as a learning strategy, and learner involvement during a semi-structured, video-taped construction task. Study 1 also examined associations with the teacher’s Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities; Study 2 focused on associations with birth order and sibling relationship quality. In both studies, siblings ranged from preschool-age to the cusp of middle childhood (Study 1 n = 61; Study 2 n = 72). Findings across both studies indicated that learners engaged in significantly more nonverbal than verbal imitation and imitation was predominately immediate and not deferred. Teachers responded to both verbal and nonverbal learner imitation positively, corrected, or did not respond. In Study 1, learner task involvement was predicted by learner age and nonverbal imitation, while teaching strategies that were positively related to the teacher’s ToM abilities were associated with learner imitation. In Study 2, younger siblings’ reports of a positive sibling relationship were significantly associated with learner imitation. Birth order differences were only evident for younger (but not older) sibling learner imitation and task involvement. Findings are discussed in light of relationships and social constructivist theories of development.

Sibling relationship quality and young children’s mental health in Chinese two-child families

With enactment of the universal two-child policy in China in 2016, the two-child family will replace the one-child family as the main family form. In this study we examined the contribution of sibling relationship quality in shaping the mental health of Chinese children in a two-child family. Parents (N = 280) reported the quality of their children’s sibling relationship, and their firstborn’s problematic and prosocial behavior, and temperament. Parents’ marital satisfaction and coparenting were also assessed. The results showed that after we had controlled for the child characteristics of age, gender, temperament, sibling age difference, and sibling gender difference, and for the parental characteristics of age and marital satisfaction, and coparenting, sibling negativity and positivity were both significantly related to child problematic behavior. In addition, sibling positivity was significantly related to child prosocial behavior. The results suggest that parents in a two-child family should provide guidance for their children’s sibling relationship, and, in particular, increase the children’s positive interaction to improve their mental health.