Birth Order and Sibling Pairs: A Comparative Study of Older and Younger Siblings’ Perceived Sibling Relationship and Differences in Gender Dyads

Abstract

This research study aimed to compare the perceived sibling relationship between older and younger siblings, as well as examine the differences among different gender dyads (male-female, female-female, male-male). The sample comprised of 50 older siblings and 51 younger siblings, all of whom were young adults aged between 18 and 30 years and of Indian origin. The Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire – Very Short Form (ASRQ-VSF) was used to assess sibling relationships. Data analysis involved conducting t-test to compare older and younger siblings’ relationship. One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine differences between the various sibling gender dyads. The results indicated that both older and younger siblings reported similar sibling relationships characterized by low levels of conflict and average levels of warmth. However, sister pairs exhibited higher levels of warmth compared to brother-sister pairs. Additionally, sister pairs perceived higher levels of parental favoritism compared to brother-sister pairs. These findings suggest that sibling relationships in this sample were generally positive, with some differences depending on the gender composition of the sibling dyads. Further research could explore additional factors that may contribute to these observed differences and expand the investigation to include a broader range of age groups and cultural contexts. Research on siblings can inform interventions, policies, and support systems that recognize and harness the potential of these relationships.