Sibling relationship

Siblings in Bhutan

Siblings play a unique role in one another's lives that simulates the companionship of parents as well as the influence and assistance of friends.[1] Because siblings often grow up in the same household, they have a large amount of exposure to one another, like other members of the immediate family. However, though a sibling relationship can have both hierarchical and reciprocal elements,[2] this relationship tends to be more egalitarian and symmetrical than with family members of other generations. Furthermore, sibling relationships often reflect the overall condition of cohesiveness within a family.[3]

Siblings normally spend more time with each other during their childhood than they do with parents or anyone else; they trust and cherish each other, so betrayal by one sibling could cause problems for that person physically as well as mentally and emotionally. Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting relationship in individuals' lives.[2][4]

  1. ^ Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1985). Children's perceptions of the personal relationships in their social networks. "Developmental Psychology, 21", 1016–1024.
  2. ^ a b Whiteman, Shawn D.; McHale, Susan M.; Soli, Anna (2012). "Theoretical Perspectives on Sibling Relationships". Journal of Family Theory and Review. 3 (2): 124–139. doi:10.1111/j.1756-2589.2011.00087.x. PMC 3127252. PMID 21731581.
  3. ^ East, P.; Khoo, S. (2005). "Longitudinal pathways linking family factors and sibling relationship qualities to adolescent substance use and sexual risk behaviors". Journal of Family Psychology. 19 (4): 571–580. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.19.4.571. PMID 16402872.
  4. ^ Cicirelli, VG. "Sibling relationships across the life span". New York: Plenum Press; 1995