A Summary of the Role of Sibling Relationships in Adolescent Development

Human interaction is necessary for proper brain development and function. From a young age, face-to-face stimulation “[t]eaches you how to speak, [how to] interpret and express emotions, and [how to] expand your knowledge,” providing a unique way to advance one's growth (Canning). To further build upon this baseline arousal, many individuals have the opportunity to grow off of a different type of connection—a sibling one. These relationships form an intriguing bond that has various unknown benefits. That means, instead of letting those unknowns linger, this summary will expand on the question: what truly is the role of sibling relationships in adolescent development? 

First and foremost, as previously discussed in various podcasts and articles, adolescence is a time for identity formation. This period is an individual's time to embark on a journey of discovery. While most of this process involves intense introspection, observing the things one enjoys, the things one dislikes, and everything in between, many external factors also weigh on the ultimate decision. Whether it is parents, teachers, or peers, each group influences in its own particular way. However, let us not overlook siblings as another category.

At this point in time, according to brownhealth.org, “[m]ost children in the U.S.—about 80 percent—have at least one sibling” (Plante). Meaning, in a single classroom, eight of the ten students should have a sibling. This statistic sheds light on the concept of sibling influence, making the number of children who are impacted by their siblings much more significant than many may realize. That said, what pieces of identity in particular are siblings affecting? Many individuals learn basic socialization skills from continuous companionship with their siblings. These attributes—trust, patience, and generosity—are needed for proper identity formation for future partnerships and relationships. Sibling relationships have also been proven to be positively connected to academic performance and self-esteem, both of which correspond to individualization, making siblings increasingly valuable to prosperity. 

Secondly, as alluded to earlier, sibling relationships aid one’s ability to function in conflict and resolution. Since humans are constantly debating various things, including politics, rules, and personal decisions, they are bound to unfold. However, during adolescence, individuals learn the proper skills to deal with these situations, instead of avoiding the issues and “[destroying] an individual’s self-esteem or [damaging] a group’s capacity for teamwork” (Munn). While many individuals learn these traits through casual connections, sibling debacles alternatively teach people on a deeper, more productive level.

Specifically, siblings support this process through trial-and-error methods. It is commonly known that conflicts will arise in close proximity relationships; this idea is especially relevant in sibling relationships. Despite that fact, humans can use these moments in time to expand their knowledge on how to resolve these dilemmas. This occurs because, “[d]uring sibling conflicts, children can learn listening skills, cooperation, seeing another person’s point of view, and managing their emotions. Children can also learn how to solve problems, consider future possibilities, and experience consequences of their actions” (Jenkins Tucker et al.). These developments differ from other external factors as they involve various growth and progress phases, both of which encompass improvement. 

Lastly, while siblings can be a very positive source of growth, they can also be a negative source. This is especially observed in the cases of risk-taking and decision-making. On both sides of the spectrum, siblings have the ability to influence one another's positive and negative decisions. In cases of positive persuasion, siblings can sometimes have a greater impact on a child than peers or parents. However, this depends on parent-child relationships and peer-child relationships. This guidance can help children make better choices about their lives, schools, hobbies, and long-term goals. 

On the other hand, this type of leverage can also lead children to follow their siblings down poor pathways. For instance, when an adolescent member approaches their high school age, recreational drug and alcohol use may become more frequent. Most of the time, individuals are capable of making their own decisions based on identity and beliefs; yet, sometimes, people choose the wrong decision based on external opinions. In the case of siblings, negative behavior can increase the chances of “antisocial behavior, substance use, and conflict” (Stormshak et al.). Before concluding, however, it is crucial to note that this is not the normal situation for most, and it is only mentioned as another topic of education.

Ultimately, siblings have much more power during the years of adolescent development than many assume. This is incredibly important to note as the number of siblings continues to rise in the USA and other countries. In all, while this summary only covered three areas of impact—identity, conflict, and behavior—there are still many other ones accessible. So, if a sibling, friend, or parent wants to search for further information, simply type in “the role of sibling relationship in adolescent development," and a whole new web of data will be revealed, amplifying the true importance of the word ‘siblings’.