The adult who is an only child: achieving separation or individuation.
60 women and 60 men between the ages of 18 and 45 years (M = 30.5, SD = 9.6) were categorized by sex, age, and birth order (only child, firstborn, lastborn) to assess the differences among the adult only-child, the youngest child, and the oldest child in autonomous characteristics and cohesiveness in family interaction. Analysis of the responses on a biographical data sheet, the California Psychological Inventory, and the Family Adaptability Cohesion Scales III showed that main effects for birth order and sex are significant in the process of separation-individuation and that the only child is less autonomous than the oldest child.
Byrd
B
B
Department of Counseling Psychology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079-2696.
DeRosa
A P
AP
Craig
S S
SS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001722:Birth Order; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009863:Only Child / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D012801:Sibling Relations