Perpetration of sibling aggression and sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood

The aims of the present study were to investigate whether twins and siblings close in age (1) present a normative pattern in the achievement of residential, working, and economic autonomy (the older sibling assumes a more adult role earlier than the younger, or twins assume an adult role at the same time); (2) differ in sibling relationship quality; and whether the normativity is linked (3) to the quality of sibling relationship and (4) to life satisfaction. A cross-sectional study on 145 emerging adults was conducted. Twins present a normative development pattern more frequently and a warmer sibling relationship than non-twin siblings. A normative development pattern is related to sibling relationships but not to the level of life satisfaction. In particular, normativity in residential conditions is linked with warmer sibling relationships, while nonnormativity in economic conditions is linked to more rivalrous relationships. These data support the assumption that during emerging adulthood a normative development pattern is linked to a more positive sibling relationship.

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Rethinking leisure time use metrics: Greater diversity in shared sibling leisure is associated with higher relationship quality during emerging adulthood

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407519867771 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 516-537

Author(s):

Eric K. Layland ◽

Camilla J. Hodge ◽

Mikala Glaza ◽

Jerrica O. Peets

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adulthood ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Sibling Relationship ◽

Age Difference ◽

Sibling Relationship Quality ◽

Taxonomic Analysis ◽

Gender Dyads ◽

Sibling Gender ◽

Mixed Gender

Leisure diversity—the total number of unique leisure categories shared within a sibling dyad—may vary according to sibling characteristics (e.g., sibling gender, age difference) and predict sibling relationship quality. Using triangulated lists, brief narratives, and focus groups, we constructed a taxonomy of shared sibling leisure in emerging adulthood and then calculated individual leisure diversity scores. The sample ( N = 185) included college-attending emerging adults with an average age of 20.1 years (35.7% female). Taxonomic analysis suggested 19 categories of shared sibling leisure. Analyses of variance indicated differences by dyadic gender composition in endorsement rates of select leisure categories and average levels of leisure diversity (lowest for mixed-gender dyads). Greater shared leisure diversity was associated with higher levels of affective (sister–sister dyads) and cognitive relationship quality (sister–sister and mixed-gender dyads). The association of leisure diversity with sibling relationship quality was strongest for sister–sister dyads and not significant for brother–brother dyads. Sibling dyads that include a sister are more likely to be impacted by the level of shared leisure diversity. The results of this study introduce leisure diversity as a metric for quantifying sibling leisure and support its potential as a means for understanding and impacting sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood.

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