Abstract
Preschool-aged children, their older siblings, and mothers in 65 families appraised the children's relationships. Children responded from their own ("I like my sister") and their siblings' ("My sister likes me") perspectives. For both children and mothers, (actor analyses indicated that a single factor with good internal consistency and short-term stability characterized sibling relationships. Relationships were appraised positively, slightly more so for self than other, and were perceived as reciprocal. The children's ratings predicted those of their mothers, but wel'e unrelated to one another. Younger but not older siblings' ratings were associated with mothers' reports of externalizing problems, use of aggressive conflict tactics, and childlen's descriptions of past sibling conflicts. Thus young children provided meaningful and coherent appraisals of their sibling relationships.
Recommended Citation
Ross, Hildy; Woody, Erik; Smith, Melissa; and Lollis, Susan
(2000)
"Young Children's Appraisals of Their Sibling Relationships,"
Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Vol. 46:
Iss.
3, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/mpq/vol46/iss3/4