Perceptions of parenting as predictors of boys' sibling and peer relations.

Abstract

This study included 71 target boys (8 to 10 years), their siblings, and mothers to examine the relations among mothering, fathering, sibling aggression, and peer outcomes. Siblings whose mothers were known to be more rejecting were observed and reported to be more aggressive with one another than siblings whose mothers were less rejecting. Moreover, boys who experienced more aggressive sibling interactions were more likely to be nominated by their peers as being aggressive and were less accepted by their peers. Although fathering failed to evince a direct influence on sibling aggression, an indirect effect was evidenced in that less accepting fathering related to more rejecting mothering. It appeared that boys' aggressive experiences with their siblings mediated, in part, the association between maternal rejection and their peer aggression and that peer aggression was a mediating link between sibling aggression and boys' acceptance by their peers.

Adolescent Development in Interpersonal Context

“…Extensive findings imply that the quality of parent-adolescent relationships may influence the quality of relations among adolescent siblings, which in turn influences adolescents' relationships with peers (e.g., Brody et al, 1994;MacKinnon-Lewis, Starnes, Volling, & Johnson, 1997;Paley, Conger, & Harold, 2000;Reese-Weber, 2000), though the causal status of these interrelations has yet to be conclusively documented. Harmony and cohesiveness in parent-adolescent relationships are associated with less sibling conflict and more positive sibling relationships, whereas adolescents who experience maternal rejection and negativity are more likely to display aggression with siblings (e.g., Hetherington et al, 1999).…”

Reintegrative Shaming Theory, moral emotions and bullying

“…Baldry and Farrington, 2000;Dunn et al, 1990;MacKinnon-Lewis et al, 1997;Patterson, 1982;Rican et al, 1993;Unnever et al, 2006]. The same cannot be said, however, about the amount of research on how parenting is related to child antisocial behavior through the mediating effects of moral emotions such as shame and guilt.…”

Sibling Relationship Quality: Associations With Marital and Coparenting Subsystems

“…Research has also established links between parent-child relationships characterized by rejection or neglect and sibling conflict (Bryant & Crockenberg, 1980;MacKinnon-Lewis, Starnes, Volling, & Johnson, 1997). MacKinnon et al found that maternal rejection was associated with greater observed and reported aggression in sibling interactions during middle childhood.…”

“…Close childhood sibling relationships have been associated with positive functioning in adolescent peer relationships (Yeh & Lempers, 2004;Tseung & Schott, 2004). Updegraff, On the other hand, conflict and antagonism within sibling relationships has been linked with poor peer relationships (Mackinnon et al, 1997) and lower levels of social adjustment . In their study involving siblings in middle childhood, Mackinnon et al demonstrated that boys who reported aggressive sibling interactions were more aggressive and less accepted by their same-age peers than those who did not report aggressive sibling interactions.…”