Consequences of Having a Gifted Sibling: Myths and Realities

Abstract

Three hundred sixty-six triads, each including a mother and her only two children, ages 7-14, completed questionnaires targeting mental ability and school achievement, child adjustment, and sibling relationship variables. Triads had been chosen as having 0, 1, or 2 children who were eligible for special classes for highly capable Students. Except for academic-ability variables, group comparisons according to school-based categories were not suggestive of sibling-giftedness effects. To focus on within-family perceptions, pairs were reclassified using a median split of the first principal component of maternal perceptions of child's giftedness. Contrary to findings of most previous studies, both giftedness and having a gifted sibling were generally associated with more favorable responses by children and mothers. Gender and age effects were also examined.

A Qualitative Investigation of the Sibling Sport Achievement Experience

“…Specifically, the study explored the lived experience of an older sibling's achievements in sport from the perspective of a younger sibling. Comparable to the broad literature dealing with sibling influence (e.g., Chamrad et al, 1995;Davis & Meyer, 2008;Milgram, & Ross, 1982), results indicated that younger siblings' experience of sibling achievement in sport crossed over to, and from, other contexts (e.g., academics and identity development). From these experiences, various themes and subthemes were detailed from the younger siblings' perceptions.…”

“…Examining the sibling relationship when one sibling is gifted is rare (Chamrad, Robinson, & Janos, 1995). Having a gifted child in a family unit may lead to heightened comparisons (Dunn, 1988), and family resources may become unequally distributed in favor of the gifted child's needs (Bloom, 1985).…”

Sibling Relationships in Families with Gifted Children

“…Contrary to these findings, other researchers point out that gifted children in the family not only do not engender stress in non-gifted siblings, but are actually an asset to them, providing them with certain advantages (Chamrad et al, 1995). Nongifted siblings of gifted children reveal, among other phenomena, lower levels of anxiety than expected.…”

Perceptions of developmental, social, and emotional issues in giftedness:Are they realistic?

“…G renier (1985), studying 27 pairs of ethnically and socioeconomically diverse siblings, and Li and Adamson (1995), studying 32 siblings of gifted secondary students, reported no difference in general self-esteem, self-perceptions, or self-image for children who are gifted and their siblings. Based on their study of 366 triads (mothers and their two children, some triads with no child gifted, some with one gifted, some with both gifted), Chamrad, Robinson, and Janos (1995) suggested that having a sibling who is gifted may actually be an asset. Finally, Colangelo and Brower (2004) produced evidence, based upon 25 matched pairs of siblings, that nongifted siblings perceive themselves to be happier about their gifted siblings' participation in accelerated programs than the gifted siblings perceived their nongifted siblings to be.…”