Longitudinal linkages between sibling relationships and adjustment from middle childhood through adolescence.
The links between changes in sibling conflict and intimacy and changes in perceived peer social competence and depression symptoms were examined from middle childhood through adolescence. Participants were mothers, fathers and first- and second-born siblings from 197 White, working/middle class, two-parent families. Peer competence peaked in early adolescence and then declined; depression symptoms were high in middle childhood and, for girls, in middle adolescence. Controlling for parent-offspring relationships and sibling and parent adjustment, increases in sibling conflict were linked to increases in depression symptoms, and increases in sibling intimacy were linked to increases in peer competence and, for girls, decreases in depression symptoms.
Kim
Ji-Yeon
JY
Prevention Research Center, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. jykim2007@gmail.com
McHale
Susan M
SM
Crouter
Ann C
AC
Osgood
D Wayne
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception