MOMMY AND DADDY LIKE YOU BEST - PERCEIVED FAMILY FAVOURITISM IN RELATION TO AFFECT, ADJUSTMENT AND FAMILY PROCESS

Perceived family favouritism and disfavouritism were explored in relat ion to college students' adjustment, affect and family process. The pa rticipants included 127 males and females and 62 of their siblings (ag e range 18-32 years). Sixty-five per cent of the participants reported favouritism in their families; 24% reported disfavouritism. There was modest sibling agreement on the presence of family favouritism/disfav ouritism as well as on who in the family was doing the favouring or di sfavouring. The presence of disfavouritism was found to relate to lowe r family cohesion, higher family disengagement and higher family confl ict. Participants who perceived themselves to be disfavoured also repo rted more frequent shame and more intense fear. Participants who perce ived themselves to be favoured reported less frequent shame. Results a re discussed in the context bf the empirical and clinical literature o n sibling and family interaction and the differential treatment of sib lings by parents. A clinical case example is provided to illustrate th e results and to highlight the implications for family therapy.