Conditions of sibling support in adolescence.

Abstract

This study examined the nature and extent of adolescent siblings' supportive roles and the conditions under which siblings provide support to one another about familial and nonfamilial issues. Data were collected from 185 adolescent firstborn (M age = 16 years) and secondborn (M age = 13 years) sibling pairs. In home interviews, siblings reported on family experiences and psychosocial functioning during the past year. In a series of 7 evening telephone interviews, siblings reported on their shared daily activities. Findings suggested that both older and younger siblings view older siblings as sources of support about nonfamilial issues such as social and scholastic activities and that siblings assume equally supportive roles about familial issues. Further, the results suggested that family background characteristics, sibling relationship qualities, and adolescents' psychosocial functioning were linked to the nature and extent of sibling support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Department

Family Studies

Publication Date

6-2001

Journal Title

Journal of Family Psychology

Publisher

American Psychological Association

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1037/0893-3200.15.2.254

Document Type

Article

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