Parents´ Differential Treatment of Siblings

Parents´ Differential Treatment of Siblings FR 2-6 6/06 Abstract Parents' Differential Treatment of Siblings Prepared by: Jennifer Jones, Graduate Assistant and Debbie Richardson, Parenting Assistant Extension Specialist Cooperative Extension 233 HES/HDFS Stillwater, OK 74078-6111 405-744-6231 Kowal, A. K., Krull, J. L., & Kramer, L. (2004). How the differential treatment of siblings is linked with parent- child relationship quality. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 658-665. IMPLICATIONS FOR COOPERATIVE families were Caucasian. The adolescent sibling EXTENSION. pairs were 2 to 4 years apart; average age of younger The issue of siblings in considering parent-child siblings was 12.5 and older siblings 15.5. They relationships seems to be rarely discussed in were diverse in gender: 21 older sister-younger sister educational programs or resources. FCS/4-H dyads, 20 older sister-younger brother dyads, 15 Educators may find information from this article older brother-younger sister dyads, and 18 older as beneficial and applicable with programs or brother-younger brother dyads. On average, activities that address children/youth, parents, mothers’ age was 42 with 16 years education while, and families. on average, fathers’ were 44 years of age and had completed 17.6 years of education. 80% of the Overview mothers worked at least part-time and all fathers were employed outside the home. The median Previous research indicates parents’ differential family income was $40,000 to $50,000. treatment of siblings is consistently linked with negative child outcomes, including poor Measures socioemotional well-being and less positive sibling relationships. This study assesses the links between All participants were asked to assess the degree of differential parenting practices and the parent-child how the parents treated their children differently in relationship quality from both adolescents’ and their family, their perception of fairness regarding parents’ perspectives. For instance, do children who parental differential treatment, and the parent-child perceive their parents to favor a sibling develop relationship quality. The magnitude of perceived feelings of resentment which may negatively impact parental differential treatment was measured by a their parent-child relationship? Or, are there modified version of the Sibling Inventory of circumstances when differential treatment occurs but Differential Experiences (SIDE), which consists of children or adolescents understand it as warranted? nine items. Mothers and fathers responded regarding their treatment of their 2 children Methodparticipating in the study. Adolescents were asked to respond pertaining to their mother and again with Sample respect to their father. Perception of the fairness of Participants included 74 maritally intact families, treatment was assessed by researchers asking each participant whether he or she believed that the each consisting of 1 father, 1 mother, and 2 parental behavior was fair or unfair. The quality of adolescents. The participating families lived in two small Midwestern cities. Parents had been married the parent-child relationship was captured by an average of 19 years and 98% of the participant (continued on reverse) Parents' Differential Treatment of Siblings (continued) administration of the Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire. Results The results of this study indicate that when adolescents perceive unequal parental treatment as unfair, the magnitude of the differential treatment by parents tends to be associated with both parent and adolescent reports of parent-child affection. Also, adolescents’ reports of higher levels of differential control were correlated with parents’ perceptions of less warm and more hostile parent-child relationships when the adolescent believed the treatment to be unfair. These results extend previous research to show that perceptions of fairness are also associated with the quality of relationships that children and parents establish. Discussion These results indicate that it is not the differential treatment alone which impacts the parent-child relationship; rather it is the perception of fairness regarding differential parental treatment of siblings. The findings from this study indicate that parents need not focus on treating children exactly equal; rather, parents should seek to communicate with their children about different and equal treatment in an effort to assist their understanding of the reasons underlying parental behaviors. Overt conversations between parents and children may be necessary in order for parents to explain their rationale for engaging in differential treatment while giving children the opportunity to express their understanding and experience of their parents’ behaviors. (continued on reverse)