Eradus, Marije;
Leijten, Patty;
Melendez-Torres, GJ;
Qing Foo, Xu;
Oliver, Bonamy R;
(2024)
Sibling Differences in Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems: A Meta-Analysis.
Journal of Family Psychology
(In press).
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Abstract
Parental differential treatment of siblings is associated with differences in children’s behavioral adjustment. The current meta-analysis examined the extent to which associations between relative parental differential treatment and differences in siblings’ behavior problems differ by type of parenting behavior (i.e., differential hostility versus differential warmth) and type of behavior problems (i.e., differential externalizing versus internalizing behavior problems). In September 2021, we systematically searched PsycINFO and Web of Science, yielding 2,259 unique hits with 19 eligible papers reporting on 215 effect sizes from 13 unique samples. The overall association between relative parental differential treatment (i.e., receiving less warmth and more hostility than one’s sibling) and behavior problems was small but significant. Associations were stronger for differential hostility compared to differential warmth and for differential externalizing compared to differential internalizing behavior problems. Particularly marked was the finding that siblings who received more hostility from their parents showed higher levels of externalizing problems. Future research investing in further dismantling the association between within-family parental differential treatment and sibling differences in adjustment is warranted to better understand why parents treat siblings differentially and to guide family support initiatives.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Sibling Differences in Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems: A Meta-Analysis |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Publisher version: | https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/fam/index |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | parental differential treatment; child externalizing problems; child internalizing problems; parenting; siblings |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10182764 |
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