Quality Matters: Sibling Relationships and Friendship Nominations among Adolescents

Deniz Yucel (), Donna Bobbitt-Zeher () and Douglas B. Downey ()
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Deniz Yucel: William Paterson University of New Jersey
Donna Bobbitt-Zeher: Ohio State University
Douglas B. Downey: Ohio State University

Child Indicators Research, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, No 9, 523-539

Abstract: Abstract Several recent studies suggest that individuals exhibit better social skills if raised with siblings. This pattern has been demonstrated among kindergartners and adults, but oddly is inconsistent among adolescents. Analyzing 1662 youths from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we replicate what others have found—no association between number of siblings and number of friendship nominations received by peers. But we expand on previous research by merging structuralist approaches (focusing primarily on number of siblings) and interactional (emphasizing relationship quality) traditions. We find clear evidence that positive sibling relationships are associated with more peer nominations. This study contributes to growing evidence that sibling relationships shape individuals’ ability to form and maintain relationships with others outside of the family. It also explains why the relationship between number of siblings and social outcomes is not evident during the adolescent years—a period when interactional components of sibship may outweigh structural ones.

Keywords: Siblings; Sibling relationship quality; Peer nominations; Adolescents; Add health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s12187-017-9448-9

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