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Who has siblings?
Who has siblings?
Almost 80% of youth in the United States have a sibling.
Siblings spend more time together than with friends.
Siblings spend more time together than with friends.
Siblings spend considerable more time together than they do apart or with friends and peers (Baxter, 2018).
Siblings are one of the longest-lasting relationships in our lives!
Siblings are one of the longest-lasting relationships in our lives!
From childhood...
McHale, S. M., Sun, X., Updegraff, K. A., & Whiteman, S. D. (2024). Patterns and correlates of changes in sibling intimacy and conflict from middle childhood through young adulthood. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001750
to adolescence...
Campione‐Barr, N., Rote, W., Killoren, S. E., & Rose, A. J. (2021). Adolescent adjustment during COVID‐19: The role of close relationships and COVID‐19‐related stress. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(3), 608-622. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12647
Rogers, C. R., Guyer, A. E., Nishina, A., & Conger, K. J. (2018). Developmental change in sibling support and school commitment across adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 28, 858–874. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12370
into young adulthood...
Gungordu, N., & Hernandez-Reif, M. (2022). Sibling relationship dynamics relate to young adults’ empathic responding. Journal of Family Studies, 28(2), 785–799. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2020.1753560
Wright, B. M., Benigno, J. P., Mccarthy, J. W., & Chabot, J. (2024). ‘They change our lives more than we change them’: Young adults’ perspectives on relationships with autistic siblings. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 71(3), 389–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2022.2095361
then midlife-older age...
Jensen, A. C., Nielson, M. K., & Yorgason, J. B. (2020). The longest-lasting relationship: Patterns of contact and well-being among mid- to later-life siblings. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 75(10), 2240–2249. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz083
and later life!
Moorman, S., Kong, J., Lee, G., Engelman, M. (2025) Life course associations of sibling relationships and cognitive functioning in late adulthood. Innovation in Aging 9(2) doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.2108
Sibling Conflict
Sibling Conflict
Conflict in sibling relationships is normative, but may seem problematic to many parents. Much work has examined sibling problem-solving skills, and studies show promising trends that siblings who may have higher-than-normal conflict often decline in conflict over time.
Howe, N., Fiorentino, L. M., & Gariépy, N. (2003). Sibling conflict in middle childhood: Influence of maternal context and mother-sibling interaction over four years. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly (1982-), 183-208. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23096227
Karavasilis Karos, L., Howe, N., & Aquan‐Assee, J. (2007). Reciprocal and complementary sibling interactions, relationship quality and socio‐emotional problem solving. Infant and Child Development: An International Journal of Research and Practice, 16(6), 577-596. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.492
Tucker, C. J., Cox, G., Sharp, E. H., van Gundy, K. T., Rebellon, C., & Stracuzzi, N. F. (2013). Sibling Proactive and Reactive Aggression in Adolescence. Journal of Family Violence, 28(3), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9483-8
Half, Step, Foster, & Adopted Siblings
Half, Step, Foster, & Adopted Siblings
Though sibling relationships may vary considerably by genetics and family structure, they continue to provide substantial influence on behavior, above and beyond that of parents and friends - regardless of biological relatedness.
Khan, R., Brewer, G., & Archer, J. (2020). Genetic relatedness, emotional closeness and physical aggression: a comparison of full and half sibling experiences. Europe's journal of psychology, 16(1), 167. doi: 10.5964/ejop.v16i1.1620
Samek, D. R., & Rueter, M. A. (2011). Associations between family communication patterns, sibling closeness, and adoptive status. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(5), 1015-1031. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2011.00865.x
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