Familial and Contextual Variables and the Nature of Sibling Relationships in Emerging Adulthood

Abstract

The current study is an examination of the familial and contextual variables correlated with sibling relationships and a quantitative and qualitative description of sibling support in emerging adulthood. Participants were 247 college students in a northeastern rural state university and 58 non-college students (M = 22.41, SD = 3.25). Participants were given surveys regarding their family constellation, economic and religious status, and sibling relationships. Additionally, participants responded to an open-ended question about their sibling relationship.

Age, gender, size of sibship, work status, financial situation, and religiosity were found to influence sibling relationships. The most positive sibling relationships were reported by older participants, participants with older siblings, participants with siblings who were apart from them by more than two years in age, females, participants with a female as their most important sibling, participants with smaller sibships, participants under no economic stress, and participants who were not working. Additionally, nonreligious participants scored lower on sibling support and warmth than other participants. In terms of the descriptive nature of sibling relationships, participants reported relying on their siblings for immediate help and for care if they were ill. Finally, the most salient theme emerging from the qualitative component of the survey was that geographic and age differences accounted for some variability in these relationships. The current findings highlight the importance of examining contextual variables in the broader interest in sibling relationships and the significance of siblings as providers of social support during emerging adulthood.

Key Words:

• Sibling relationships
• emerging adulthood
• family variables
• contextual variables