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 (35.7% female). Taxonomic analysis suggested 19 categories of shared sibling leisure. Analyses of variance 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 the 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.
During the transition to adulthood, emerging adults may experience new geographic distance separating them physically from their siblings. Digital leisure is common among emerging adults and may serve as a tool for maintaining relationship quality across geographic distance. Using triangulated list responses, brief narratives, and focus groups, we calculated individual digital leisure diversity scores for four categories of digital leisure identified from a constructed taxonomy. The sample (n = 185) included college-attending emerging adults with an average age of 20.1 years (64.3% male). Analysis of variance indicated differences by dyadic gender composition in endorsement rates of select leisure categories (social media and gaming). Digital leisure diversity is associated with greater levels of affective and cognitive relationship quality, regardless of sibling dyad gender. The association between digital leisure diversity and cognitive relationship quality was significant for participants who lived under 25 miles from their sibling. Results of this study demonstrate an association between digital leisure diversity and sibling relationship quality without gender differences, however, digital leisure diversity may not play the expected role of relationship maintenance across long distances.
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