Sibling Differentiation: Sibling and Parent Relationship Trajectories in Adolescence

Abstract

Studied here were the links between sibling differences in trajectories of change in the qualities of parent-child relationships and the qualities of sibling relationships across a 2-year period in adolescence. Participants were first- and second-born siblings (M age = 14.94 years for firstborns and M age = 12.46 years for secondborns) from 185 predominantly White, working and middle-class families. In home interviews, siblings reported on their dyadic family relationships. For reports of parent-child warmth but not parent-child conflict, results were consistent with sibling differentiation theory: Increasing differences between siblings over time in parent-child warmth were linked to trajectories of increasing warmth and decreasing conflict in the sibling relationship as reported by firstborns, and increasing warmth in the sibling relationship as reported by secondborns. The findings support the view that sibling differentiation may be a strategy for managing sibling conflict and rivalry.

Friend, foe, or both? A retrospective exploration of sibling relationships in elite youth sport

“…Schachter and colleagues (1978) found that sibling deidentification leads to less direct competition and, theoretically, is most pronounced in siblings who are most objectively similar in age, birth order, or sex. Therefore, findings support the view that sibling differentiation may be a strategy for managing sibling conflict and rivalry (Feinberg, McHale, Crouter, & Cumsille, 2003). Despite the vast amount of research in the area of sibling deidentification, the "dynamic nature of differentiation processes" (Feinberg et al, 2003(Feinberg et al, , p. 1263) is under investigated.…”

“…Therefore, findings support the view that sibling differentiation may be a strategy for managing sibling conflict and rivalry (Feinberg, McHale, Crouter, & Cumsille, 2003). Despite the vast amount of research in the area of sibling deidentification, the "dynamic nature of differentiation processes" (Feinberg et al, 2003(Feinberg et al, , p. 1263) is under investigated. Sibling deidentification theory implies that the process of differentiation occurs over time.…”

“…The family as an evolving network of individuals has not been explored. Thus, instead of a snapshot of siblings relationships at one point in time, changes in sibling relationships and how such change relates to other aspects of the family system needs further exploration (Feinberg et al, 2003).…”

Developmental Changes in Adolescents’ Perceptions of Relationships with Their Parents

“…Cross-sectional studies have reported that parental support declines from early to middle adolescence (Furman and Buhrmester 1992;Helsen et al 2000;Meeus et al 2005). In agreement with this, parental support, intimacy, and warmth, the latter two both aspects of support, were longitudinally found to decline from early to middle adolescence (Feinberg et al 2003;Shanahan et al 2007a;Wickrama et al 1997). Cross-sectional studies showed that parental support stabilizes during late adolescence (Furman and Buhrmester 1992;Helsen et al 2000;Meeus et al 2005).…”

“…Other studies did not examine or find gender differences for boys and girls in mean levels or development of support (e.g. Feinberg et al 2003;Helsen et al 2000;Meeus et al 2005;Lempers and ClarkLempers 1992). With respect to gender differences for mothers and fathers, no support differences were found in pre-and early adolescence, whereas mothers were perceived as more supportive than fathers in middle and late adolescence (Furman and Buhrmester 1992).…”