“…More recent theoretical analyses have suggested that family members may provide similar support after parental separation, as if to re-establish a balance in family relationships (Beal, 1979). In one-parent households older children may take on many of the father's responsibilities (Schlesinger, 1982) and siblings may give one another more physical contact (Kimball, Stewart, Conger, & Burgess, 1980), emotional closeness (Robson, 1979 ;Springer & Wallerstein, 1983 ;Troyer, 1979), loyalty (Bank & Kahn, 1982), or support (Weiss, 1979a, b). Even when a parent is physically present, but is emotionally distant to the children, preschool siblings develop a special closeness (Dunn & Kendrick, 1982).…”