Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Brothers and Sisters pp 125–140Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Sibling Relationships in Adolescence Across Cultures: Predictors, Transitions, and Support

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

In addition to being the most long-lasting relationship an individual can develop, the sibling relationship has the potential of offering unique cognitive, social, and emotional provisions throughout the lifespan. This potency is particularly distinct during adolescence, a time of shifting identity and social constellations. This chapter will review research findings on the structural and familial predictors of sibling relationship quality during adolescence. In addition to gender, age, age gap, family size, and gender tilting factors that may impact sibling relationship quality, familial characteristics, particularly parent base factors, have been shown to impact sibling relationship quality both indirectly and directly. The chapter will also assess outcomes associated with sibling support and will examine these predictors and outcomes within a cultural context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Blanchard, R. (2004). Quantitative and theoretical analyses of the relation between older brothers and homosexuality in men. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 230, 173–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1962). Social learning through imitation. In M. R. Jones (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation (Vol. 10, pp. 211–274). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bat-Chava, Y., & Martin, D. (2002). Sibling relationships of deaf children: The impact of child and family characteristics. Rehabilitation Psychology, 47, 73–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumrind, D. (1971). Current patterns of parental authority. Developmental Psychology Monographs, 4, Part 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bongers, I. L., Koot, H. M., van der Ende, J., & Verhulst, F. C. (2003). The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112, 179–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branje, S., van Lieshout, C., Van Aken, M., & Haselager, G. (2004). Perceived support in sibling relationships and adolescent adjustment. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 45, 1385–1396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buhrmester, D. (1992). The developmental courses of sibling and peer relationships. In F. Boer & J. Dunn (Eds.), Children’s sibling relationships: Developmental and clinical issues (pp. 19–40). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buist, K. L., Metindogan, A., Coban, S., Watve, S., Paranjpe, A., Koot, H. M., van Lier, P., Branje, S. J. T., & Meeus, W. H. J. (2017). Cross-cultural differences in sibling power balance and its concomitants across three age periods. In N. Campione-Barr (Ed.), Power, control, and influence in sibling relationships across development. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 156, 87–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cicirelli, V. G. (1991). Sibling relationships in adulthood. Marriage and Family Review, 16, 291–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cicirelli, V. G. (1995). Sibling relationships across the life span. New York: Plenum Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Crocetti, E., & Meeus, W. (2014). “Family comes first!” Relationships with family and friends in Italian emerging adults. Journal of Adolescence, 37, 1463–1473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolgin, K. G., & Lindsay K. R. (1999). Disclosure between college students and their siblings. Journal of Family Psychology, 13, 393–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Downey, D. B., & Condron, D. J. (2004). Playing well with others in kindergarten: The benefit of siblings at home. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 333–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, G. J., & Yeung, W. J. (1995). Extent and consequences of welfare dependence among America’s children. Children and Youth Services Review, 17, 157–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, J., & Kendrick, C. (1982). Sibling: Love, envy, and understanding. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, J., Slomkowski, C., & Beardsall, L. (1994). Sibling relationships from the preschool period through middle childhood and early adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 30, 315–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • East, P. L., & Khoo, S. (2005). Longitudinal pathways linking family factors and sibling relationship qualities to adolescent substance use and sexual risk behaviors. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 571–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, C. W., & Ross, C. A. (1988). The tilted family. In M. D. Kahn & K. G. Lewis (Eds.), Siblings in therapy: Life span and clinical issues (pp. 273–296). New York: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, C. W., Wilson, K. G., & Falconer, J. (1990). A psychometric investigation of gender-tilted families: Implications for family therapy. Family Relations, 39(1), 8–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furman, W., & Lanthier, R. (1996). Personality and sibling relationships. In G. H. Brody (Ed.), Sibling relationships: Their causes and consequences (pp. 127–146). Westport, CT: Ablex Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, M., & Roscoe, B. (1990). Sibling violence and agonistic interactions among middle adolescents. Adolescence, 25, 451–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, J. M., Padilla-Walker, L. M., & Jensen, A. (2016). Do siblings matter independent of both parents and friends? Sympathy as a mediator between sibling relationship quality and adolescent outcomes. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 26, 101–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healey, M. D., & Ellis, B. J. (2007). Birth order, conscientiousness, and openness to experience: Tests of the family-niche model of personality using a within-family methodology. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28, 55–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M. (1988). Parents, children and siblings: Six years after divorce. In R. A. Hinde & J. Stevenson-Hinde (Eds.), Relationships within families: Mutual influences (pp. 311–331). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, E. M. (1989). Coping with family transition: Winners, losers, and survivors. Child Development, 60, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. C., Whiteman, S. D., Fingerman, K. L., & Birditt, K. S. (2013). ‘Life still isn’t fair’: Parental differential treatment of young adult siblings. Journal of Marriage and Family, 75, 438–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., McHale, S., Osgood, D., & Crouter, A. (2006). Longitudinal course and family correlates of sibling relationships from childhood through adolescence. Child Development, 77, 1746–1761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, L., & Kowal, A. K. (2005) Sibling relationship quality from birth to adolescence: The enduring contributions of friends. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 503–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, M. J. (1991). Attachment and close relationships: A life-span perspective. In J. L. Gewirtz & W. M. Kurtines (Eds.), Intersections with attachment (pp. 183–205). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, M. J., Guacci-Franco, N., & Levitt, J. L. (1993). Convoys of social support in childhood and early adolescence: Structure and function. Developmental Psychology, 29, 811–818.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linares, L. O., Li, M., Shrout, P., Brody, G., & Pettit, G. (2007). Placement shift, sibling relationship quality, and child outcomes in foster care: A controlled study. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 736–743.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, R., Gaylord, N., Kitzmann, K., & Cohen, R. (2002). Family stress and children’s rejection by peers: Do siblings provide a buffer? Journal of Child & Family Studies, 11, 331–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E. E., & Martin, J. A. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parent-child interaction. In P. H. Mussen (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology (4th ed., Vol. 4, pp. 1–101). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson, D. (1998). The logic and implications of a person approach. In R. B. Cairns, L. R. Bergman, & J. Kagan (Eds.), Methods and models for studying the individual (pp. 33–63). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson, D., & Stattin, H. (1998). Person-context interaction theories. In Lerner, R. M. (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Theoretical models of human development (Vol. 1, pp. 685–760). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maguire-Pavao, J., St. John, M., Ford-Cannole, R., Fischer, T., Maluccio, A., & Peining, S. (2007). Sibling kinnections: A clinical visitation program. Child Welfare, 86, 13–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, S., Manke, B., Eftekhari, A., & Dunn, J. (2000). Children’s perceptions of sibling conflict during middle childhood: Issues and sibling (dis)similarity. Social Development, 9, 173–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McHale, S. M., Updegraff, K. A., Helms-Erikson, H., & Crouter, A. C. (2001). Sibling influences on gender development in middle childhood and early adolescence: A longitudinal study. Developmental Psychology, 37, 115–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLoyd, V. C. (1989). Socialization and development in a changing economy: The effects of paternal job and income loss on children. American Psychologist, 44, 293–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A. (2004) Perceived parental marital satisfaction and divorce: Effects on sibling relations in emerging adults. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 41, 115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A. (2005). Compensatory patterns of sibling support in emerging adulthood: Variations in loneliness, self-esteem, depression and life satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 22, 743–755.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A. (2011). Sibling relationships in childhood and adolescence: Predictors and outcomes. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A. (2016). Sibling issues in therapy: Research and practice with children, adolescents, and adults. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A., & Levitt, M. J. (2005). Sibling support in early adolescence: Buffering and compensation across relationships. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2, 299–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A., Schlechter, M. J., & Machlev, M. (2011). Effects of parenting style and involvement in sibling conflict on adolescent sibling relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 1130–1148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A., Schlechter, M. J., Netter, S. A., & Keehn, D. (2007). Maternal and paternal parenting styles in adolescents: Associations with self-esteem, depression and life-satisfaction. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 39–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minnett, A. M., Vandell, D. L., & Santrock, J. W. (1983). The effects of sibling status on sibling interaction: Influence of birth order, age spacing, sex of child, and sex of sibling. Child Development, 54, 1064–1072.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. London: Tavistock.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Minuchin, S. (1981). Family therapy techniques. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser, R. P., & Jacob, T. (2002). Parental and sibling effects in adolescent outcomes. Psychological Reports, 91, 463–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mota, C. P., & Matos, P. M. (2015). Does sibling relationship matter to self-concept and resilience in institutionalized adolescents? Child and Youth Service Review, 56, 97–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, J. (1991). College students’ relationships with siblings. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20, 629–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, J. (1996). The more the merrier? Effects of family size and sibling spacing on sibling relationships. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 22, 285–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richmond, M. K., Stocker, C. M., & Rienks, S. L. (2005). Longitudinal associations between sibling relationship quality, parental differential treatment, and children’s adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 550–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riggio, H. R. (2006). Relationships in young adulthood structural features of sibling dyads and attitudes toward sibling. Journal of Family Issues, 27, 1233–1254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, B. G. (1982). Lifespan personality stability in sibling status. In M. E. Lamb & B. Sutton-Smith (Eds.), Sibling relationships: Their nature and significance across the lifespan (pp. 167–224). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruff, S. C., Durtschi, J. A., & Day, R. D. (2017). Family subsystems predicting adolescents’ perceptions of sibling relationship quality over time. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 44, 527–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, I. N. (1980). Social support resources, stress, and maladjustment of poor children. American Journal of Community Psychology, 8, 41–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, F. F., Gilutz, G., Shore, E., & Adler, M. (1978). Sibling deidentification judged by mothers: Cross-validation and developmental studies. Child Development, 49, 543–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, F. F., Shore, E., Feldman-Rotman, S., Marquis, R. E., & Campbell, S. (1976). Sibling deidentification. Developmental Psychology, 12, 418–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sulloway, F. J. (2007). Birth order. In C. Salmon & T. Shackelford (Eds.), Evolutionary family psychology (pp. 162–182). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesser, A. (1980). Self-esteem maintenance in family dynamics. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 77–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandell, D. L., Minnett, A. M., & Santrock, J. W. (1987). Age differences in sibling relationships during middle childhood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 8, 247–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vondra, J. I., Shaw, D. S., Swearingen, L., Cohen, M., & Owens, E. B. (1999). Early relationship quality from home to school: A longitudinal study. Early Education and Development, 10, 163–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M. E., Schubert, H., & Schubert, D. S. (1985). Effects of sibling spacing on intelligence, interfamilial relations, psychosocial characteristics, and mental and physical health. In H. W. Reese (Ed.), Advances in child development and behavior (pp. 149–206). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wichman, A. L., Rodgers, J. L., & MacCallum, R. C. (2006). A multilevel approach to the relationship between birth order and intelligence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 117–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, T. M. L., Branje, S. J. T., VanderValk, I. E., Hawk, S. T., & Meeus, W. H. J. (2010). The role of siblings in identity development in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 673–682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh, H., & Lempers, J. (2004). Perceived sibling relationships and adolescent development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33, 133–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zukow, P. G. (1989). Sibling interaction across cultures: Theoretical and methodological issues. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Zukow, P. G. (2002). Sibling caregiving. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting: Vol. 3: Being and becoming a parent (2nd ed., pp. 253–286). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel

    Avidan Milevsky

Authors
  1. Avidan Milevsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Avidan Milevsky .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Ann Buchanan

  2. Helsinki, Finland

    Anna Rotkirch

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Milevsky, A. (2021). Sibling Relationships in Adolescence Across Cultures: Predictors, Transitions, and Support. In: Buchanan, A., Rotkirch, A. (eds) Brothers and Sisters. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55985-4_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55985-4_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-55984-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-55985-4

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation