Longitudinal direct and indirect pathways linking older sibling competence to the development of younger sibling competence.
A 4-wave longitudinal model tested direct and indirect links between older sibling (OS; M = 11.7 years) and younger sibling (YS; M = 9.2 years) competence in 152 rural African American families. Data were collected at 1-year intervals. At each wave, different teachers assessed OS competence, YS competence, and YS self-regulation. Mothers reported their own psychological functioning; mothers and YSs reported parenting practices toward the YS. OS competence was stable across time and was linked with positive changes in mothers' psychological functioning from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Mothers' Wave 2 psychological functioning was associated with involved-supportive parenting of the YS at Wave 3. OS Wave 2 competence and Wave 3 parenting were indirectly linked with Wave 4 YS competence, through Wave 3 YS self-regulation. Structural equation modeling controlled for Wave 1 YS competence; thus, the model accounted for change in YS competence across 3 years.
Brody
Gene H
GH
Department of Child and Family Development, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-4527, USA. gbrody@arches.uga.edu
Kim
Sooyeon
S
Murry
Velma McBride
VM
Brown
Anita C
AC
D000124:Achievement; D000339:Affect; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012424:Rural Population; D012649:Self Concept; D012801:Sibling Relations; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012951:Socialization; D013598:Systems Theory; D001741:Black or African American