Cross-Cultural Differences in Sibling Power Balance and Its Concomitants Across Three Age Periods

Abstract

We examined cross-cultural differences in (1) sibling power balance and (2) the associations between sibling power balance and internalizing and externalizing problems in three separate cross-cultural studies (early childhood, late childhood, and adolescence). The early childhood samples consisted of 123 Turkish and 128 Dutch mothers (mean age for children was 4.9 years). In the late childhood samples, self-report data were collected from 124 Indian and 129 Dutch children (mean age 10.9 years). In the adolescent samples self-report data were collected from 165 ethnic Moroccan and 165 ethnic Dutch adolescents (mean age 15.2 years). In all studies, questionnaire data on sibling power imbalance and internalizing and externalizing problems were collected. Results showed only one significant cross-cultural difference in sibling power imbalance: The Indian sample reported more sibling power imbalance than the Dutch. Links between sibling power imbalance and problem behavior were highly similar between the different cultural samples. The only significant difference was a stronger impact of sibling power imbalance on externalizing problems for the Dutch compared to the Turkish sample. Concluding, few cross-cultural differences were found in sibling power imbalance. Across cultures and age groups, more sibling power imbalance was linked to more internalizing and externalizing problems.

Do siblings influence one another? Unpacking processes that occur during sibling conflict

“…Cross‐cultural research suggests that sibling relationships may be less conflictual in cultures that lean towards prescribed and obligatory roles for siblings, versus discretionary roles (Maynard, 2004). Variations in power balance, rivalry, competition, and caregiving responsibility in sibling relationships have been found across cultures (Buist et al, 2017; Maynard, 2019). The rapid growth of ethnic minority and immigrant populations makes this a critical and fruitful area of study.…”

Sibling relationship qualities and peer and academic adjustment: A multi-informant longitudinal study of Chinese families.

“…Another possibility is that, given their cultural emphasis on family harmony and group cohesion (Chen, 2012), Chinese children may be able to derive particular benefits from harmonious and nonconflictual sibling exchanges, as in our study. An emerging line of research has used cultural comparative designs to collect cross-sectional data from children and adolescents in such countries as India, Turkey, and the Netherlands and examined sibling influences across different developmental periods (Buist, Metindogan, et al, 2017; Buist, Verhoeven, et al, 2017). Cultural comparative studies that include longitudinal data from school- and adolescent-aged siblings in, for example, China and the U.S., are needed to test if sibling support is linked to child adjustment in unique ways in Chinese communities.…”

“…Moreover, global warmth and conflict alone may not provide a complete picture of sibling relationships. Additional domains to be examined in future research include disclosure, jealousy, conflict resolution, power balance, and behavioral control, all of which may contribute to child adjustment in unique ways (Buist, Metindogan, et al, 2017; Buist, Verhoeven, et al, 2017; Killoren et al, 2008; Padilla et al, 2019; Tucker et al, 2010).…”

Transitions and transformations in sibling relationships: Characteristics of Turkish and US young adults’ sibling-related turning-point memories

“…The quality or structure of a sibling relationship generally depends on the number of siblings, birth order, age level, age gap, and gender (Cicirelli, 1995;McHale et al, 2012). Sibling relationships also are situated in a larger cultural context (Buist et al, 2017;Cicirelli, 1994) that may amplify some and lessen the impact of other of the variables that affect sibling relationships, depending on the values and expectations of the culture.…”