Siblings' Direct and Indirect Contributions to Child Development

Author: Brody G.H.¹

Source: Current Directions in Psychological Science, Volume 13, Number 3, June 2004 , pp. 124-126(3)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

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Abstract:

Since the early 1980s, a growing body of research has described the contributions of sibling relationships to child and adolescent development. Interactions with older siblings promote young children's language and cognitive development, their understanding of other people's emotions and perspectives, and, conversely, their development of antisocial behavior. Studies address the ways in which parents' experiences with older children contribute to their rearing of younger children, which in turn contributes to the younger children's development. Finally, by virtue of having a sibling, children may receive differential treatment from their parents. Under some conditions, differential treatment is associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children.

Keywords: siblings; interaction; development; differential treatment

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.00289.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Child and Family Development and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia

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