Sibling Relationships in Adolescence and Young Adulthood in Multiple Contexts: A Critical Review

Abstract

In many contexts worldwide, most people grow up with one or more siblings. The current paper reviews research on sibling relationship quality (closeness, communication, and conflict) in adolescence and young adulthood in four different contexts: primarily White North American and European samples (132 articles reviewed); ethnic minority families (26 articles reviewed); China (6 articles reviewed); and when one sibling has a disability (21 articles reviewed). Where the literature was available, within each context we addressed five questions: how does sibling relationship quality change from adolescence through young adulthood, how are demographic and structural characteristics linked to sibling relationship quality, how is sibling relationship quality linked to adjustment and behavior, how are familial relationships and processes linked to sibling relationship quality, and how is sibling relationship quality linked to non-familial relationships. Included articles were published between 2001 and 2021 and included aspects of sibling closeness, communication, or conflict in adolescence or young adulthood. Across all contexts, individual (e.g., gender) and dyadic characteristics (e.g., gender composition, birth order) play a role in siblings’ relationship qualities. In several contexts, the current literature suggests that sibling closeness and communication are linked to positive development, well-being, and healthy relationships with other social partners. In multiple contexts, sibling conflict is linked to poorer well-being and negative relationships with other social partners. These broad patterns, however, are qualified by each context and often multiple moderators.

Developmental trajectories of children’s sibling jealousy after the birth of a sibling: Strict parental control, parenting stress and parental depression as pre-birth predictors

“…There were at least two possible explanations. One was that one-child families in China had become the social norm for more than three decades (Chen & Tan, 2021; Jensen et al, 2022). In our sample these families had a second baby immediately after the implementation of the two-child family policy in China.…”

Like brother, like sister? Disentangling the intertwined associations between siblings’ life course trajectories

“…In many contexts worldwide, people often grow up with one or more siblings (Dunifon et al, 2017;Jensen et al, 2023). Children with coresident siblings typically spend a majority of their discretionary time engaging in activities together with their siblings (Dunifon et al, 2017).…”

“…Children with coresident siblings typically spend a majority of their discretionary time engaging in activities together with their siblings (Dunifon et al, 2017). Namely, siblings' emotional closeness, including a sense of shared experience, trust, and enjoyment of the bond, is an important factor that accompany many people during childhood and adolescence (Jensen et al, 2023;Lee et al, 1990). Unlike parents and children, siblings are often age peers, which makes their relationships more egalitarian and less hierarchical (Connidis, 1992).…”

“…Moreover, it is important to note that sibling relationships change over life courses (Jensen et al, 2023). For example, a study found a decrease in sibling conflict and an increase in sibling intimacy in the year following a firstborn's transition to independent living (Whiteman, McHale, & Crouter, 2011).…”

“…Within each family, there are different interdependent and mutually influential subsystems, with the three primary subsystems being marital (between parents), parent-child, and sibling (Cox & Paley, 1997). Because of their interdependence, marital relationships, parent-child dynamics, and other family processes may have implications for sibling relationships, and vice versa (Jensen et al, 2023). For instance, one subsystem may adapt to disruptions of the other subsystem (Engfer, 1988).…”