Sibling Relationship in Connection with Social and Emotional Competence

Abstract

Social and emotional competence is vital for an individual’s development. Sibling relationships can aid in the development of these competencies by providing opportunities for socialization, communication, and emotional regulation. This research study explores the impact of sibling relationships on the social competence and emotional competence of individuals. The importance of social competence and emotional competence in an individual’s life has been established in the literature, and the study aims to understand how sibling relationships can influence these competencies in an Indian context. The researchers collected data from 200 young adults in the age range of 20 to 30, both male and female, using three scales – Emotional Competence Scale, Social Competence Scale, and The Sibling Relationship Questionnaire. The exclusion criteria for the study were individuals who did not fall within the age range or were single children. The results of the study showed a significant correlation between sibling relationships, social competence, and emotional competence. The data indicated a strong relationship between sibling relationships and social competence (r = -0.203) as well as emotional competence (r = 0.210). Sibling relationships provide individuals with opportunities to develop social norms, communication, cooperation, and conflict-resolution skills. Moreover, it helps in developing empathy and emotion regulation techniques. The study has significant implications for future research. The impact of sibling relationships on social and emotional competence can be studied based on gender, economic status, and birth order. Furthermore, sibling relationships can be explored in the virtual world as people are frequently engaged on social media.