Psychology Facts

▼ Siblings ▼

》Having a sibling, for example, affects a child's social skills, and a child with a sister or brother can often be more agreeable and sympathetic. Some research indicates that having a sibling in adulthood helps alleviate depression and anxiety. People are altogether happier when they have positive sibling relationships.

》You Spend More Time With You Siblings Than Anyone Else
A Pennsylvania State University investigation unveiled that by the period children become 11, they spend about 33% of their spare time with their siblings.

》A study has stated that siblings who are aged between 3 and 7 years old fight 3 1/2 times in an hour.

》You are more likely to follow gender rules if you have a sibling of the opposite gender

》Those with siblings have better interpersonal skills. (Younger siblings look up to their older brothers and sisters, thereby learning how to cope with difficult situations later in their lives.)

》Having a sibling of the opposite gender tends to assist one in getting more dates

》There's evidence that firstborns have slightly higher IQs than their younger siblings. Some researchers attribute this to parental age at the time of birth, while others contend that firstborns received more resources and attention from parents during important developmental stages.

》Studies exhibited that 65% of mothers and 70% of fathers show a preference for one child over another.
Research has shown that many non-favored siblings use this situation to their own advantage, but that it can be damaging in the long run to their self-esteem and confidence.

》A child's personality and behavior can affect how parents treat them. Parents behave more affectionately toward children who are pleasant and affectionate, and they direct more discipline toward children who act out or engage in unruly or deviant behavior. Because girls tend to be warmer and less aggressive than boys, parents are more likely to favor daughters over sons, though this is not the case in patriarchal cultures.

》People tend to form relationships with partners who are of the same birth order as they are. So if you're a middle child, you could be more likely to marry a middle child.

》Favoritism is also more likely when parents are under stress; this can include everything from marital problems to financial difficulties. Parents may be unable to inhibit their true feelings or monitor their behavior to be sure they are being fair to all children. Some researchers argue that when emotional or material resources are limited, parents will favor children who have the most potential to thrive and reproduce.

》A Swedish study found that those who grew up with siblings were less likely to become overweight than others who grew up as an only child.

》If an older sibling is on the autism spectrum, a younger sibling can be at a higher risk for developing autism, too. Researchers have had trouble calculating the exact risk, however.

》A study by Ohio State University revealed that each extra sibling (up to 7) cuts down a person's with their partners in the future by about 2%.

》Younger siblings tend to be more extroverted than older siblings in large families. Some believe that this is because they are so used to dealing with a large number of siblings, they are forced to speak up to get attention. It can also occur in smaller families for similar reasons.

》A study on 390 families conducted by the Leiden University in the Netherlands found that younger siblings were much more rebellious and aggressive as opposed to their older siblings.

》Research says that younger siblings are less prone to get eczema and other allergies as opposed to their older siblings.

》Study has shown for every son that a woman gives birth to, the likelihood of the next son being gay goes up by 28% to 48%.

》A big part of individual personality develops in relation to interaction with siblings. All those fights with siblings may just change who you are as a person. Skills children learn in conflict resolution with siblings can carry over into other areas of life, making us better or worse at forming romantic relationships, working with others or having lasting friendships. Some other studies have suggested that birth order with siblings may also play a role in personality development, with older siblings being more nurturing and middle siblings being peacemakers, though many dispute these findings.

》Key birth order traits of firstborn children:
Go-getter
Responsible
Role model
Determined
Rule follower
Hard worker
Cautious
Bossy
Timely

》Key birth order traits of middle children:
Adaptable
Social butterfly
Dreamer
Generous
Creative
Rebellious
Competitive
Funny
Great negotiator

》Key birth order traits of youngest children:
Risk-taker
Outgoing
Dependent
Persistent
Fun-loving
Charming
Easy-going
Free-spirited
Spoiled

Key birth order traits of only children:
Mature
Loyal
Independent
Confident
Leader
Cautious
Curious
Sensitive