Finds that verbal behaviors were more important to the closeness of women's relationships than men's, but that shared activities were not more important to men than to women. Finds that verbal behaviors were also more important to the closeness of friendships than they were to sibling relationships. (SR)

Sixty-four sibling dyads (4-12 years old; 61% males; 83% European-American) were asked to resolve an ongoing conflict. Older siblings provided leadership by suggesting, modifying, justifying, and requesting assent to plans for conflict resolution. Younger siblings countered and disagreed, but also contributed to planning and agreed to their…

The present study examined whether predictors of romantic-partner conflict may vary as a function of family structure. Using a cross-sectional design, we tested a mediation model of conflict resolution behaviours among late adolescents from intact (n=185) and divorced (n=87) families. Adolescents rated conflict resolution behaviours in five dyadic…

Scholars have suggested that family life may influence children's attributions about close relationships. Using a sample of 369 two-parent families with 2 children (a target adolescent in the 8th grade and a sibling aged 10 to 18), we investigated whether the sibling's negative attributions regarding the target adolescent were associated with…

In this study, 116 emerging adults and adolescents completed questionnaires and were interviewed about their relationship with a sibling. Respondents' siblings and their mothers also rated the quality of the sibling relationship. Emerging adults were found to spend less time and to be less involved in joint activities with their siblings than…

Cognitive and language skills of 39 siblings of children with autism (SIBS-A) and 39 siblings of typically developing children (SIBS-TD) at ages 4, 14, 24, 36, and 54 months were compared. Twelve of the 39 SIBS-A revealed a delay in cognition and/or language (including one child diagnosed with autism) compared to only two SIBS-TD. Developmental…

Research has shown a strong connection between birth weight and future outcomes. We ask how health problems after birth affect outcomes using data from public health insurance records for 50,000 children born between 1979 and 1987 in the Canadian province of Manitoba. We compare children to siblings born an average of three years apart. We find…

In this narrative, five adult siblings bring their voices together to tell the stories of their interwoven college experiences--how they influenced, supported, and relied on one another and other family members. As the stories unfold, they reveal the strengths of the familial ties that provide meaning and purpose to the college experience, the…

The aim of this study was to identify subgroups of early and mid-adolescents with different drinking trajectories. In addition, we examined whether gender, parental, and peer factors predicted adolescents' membership of these drinking trajectories. We used longitudinal data of 428 families (fathers, mothers, mid-adolescents, and their younger…

Background: Recent studies suggest that the association between maternal age at childbearing (MAC) and children's disruptive behaviors is the result of family factors that are confounded with both variables, rather than a casual effect of environmental factors specifically related to MAC. These studies, however, relied on restricted samples and…

The presence of a child with an intellectual disability is often perceived as a cloud hanging over the heads of their siblings, placing them at risk of developing a variety of problems. Only recently have siblings been examined for the positive aspects of this life situation, such as the potential to experience psychological growth. Adopting J. A.…

Sibling conflicts are formative opportunities for children to learn constructive conflict strategies such as negotiation and compromise; however, they also provide a forum for learning destructive strategies such as verbal and physical aggression. This study explored mothers' perceptions about how frequent, serious, and typical sibling aggression…

An investigation examined whether perceived use of sibling functional communication skills differed across the life-span. Participants were recruited through university students enrolled in an introductory communication course at a southern university. All students received extra credit for recruiting two participants. Potential participants were…

This study reports ad hoc findings of a study research project that explored the statistical properties of a questionnaire investigating the factors that motivate individuals to pursue higher education. The researcher used the literature-based, researcher-developed Factors Influencing Participation in Higher Education Questionnaire (S. Harris,…

Examined whether established associations between perceptions of parental differential treatment (PDT) and sibling relationship quality are moderated by children's perceptions and attributions of parental behavior in 61 children (11-13 years) and their siblings. Children did not perceive PDT in two-thirds of instances reported; 75% who…