SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD - A TYPOLOGY

This investigation attempted to classify adult sibling relationships i nto a small number of discrete types and to describe those sibling rel ationship types in terms of the relative warmth, conflict, and rivalry experienced by members of the sibling dyad. Adult participants (N = 2 67), ranging in age from 17 to 56 years, were asked to complete survey s describing their relationship with the biological sibling who was cl osest in age to themselves. Using the theoretical categories developed by Murphy (1993) in her study of young siblings, a retrospective ques tionnaire was constructed to classify the respondent's relationship wi th his or her sibling as Caretaker, Buddy, or Casual. Along with these three groups, a fourth type of sibling relationship was detected that closely resembled the Loyal subgroup described by Gold (1989) in her study of sibling relationships among the elderly. Differences among th ese four groups were assessed with the Adult Sibling Relationship Ques tionnaire developed by Lanthier and Stocker (1993). Group differences are summarized, and several potential developmental paths from childho od to adulthood for the various types of sibling relationships are out lined.