Harnessing the power of sibling relationships as a tool for optimizing social-emotional development.
Sibling relationships provide one of the most stable and powerful developmental contexts for the transmission of both prosocial and antisocial behavior. As a source of support and skill development, sibling relationships can build competence in self-regulation and emotional understanding. However, sibling relationships marked by antisocial behavior, substance use, and conflict place children at risk for a host of negative outcomes. Family relationship features, particularly parenting practices and discord, contribute strongly to both the quality of sibling relationships and children's well-being. Our review of intervention strategies reveals that the potential of sibling relationships to promote socioemotional development may be best realized through family-centered approaches that build prosocial sibling interactions, curtail child behavior problems, and strengthen parenting.
Stormshak
Elizabeth A
EA
University of Oregon Child and Family Center, Eugene, Oregon, USA. bstorm@uoregon.edu
Bullock
Bernadette M
BM
Falkenstein
Corinna A
CA
D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting; D012801:Sibling Relations; D012919:Social Behavior; D012951:Socialization