Perceptions of sibling qualities and activities of early adolescents

Authors
Citation
A. Cole et Ka. Kerns, Perceptions of sibling qualities and activities of early adolescents, J EARLY ADO, 21(2), 2001, pp. 204-226
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF EARLY ADOLESCENCE
ISSN journal
02724316 → ACNP
Volume
21
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
204 - 226
Database
ISI
SICI code
0272-4316(200105)21:2<204:POSQAA>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
The purpose for this study was to address tile ways in which conflictual an d positive relationship qualities in the sibling relationship differ at dif ferent grade levels during early adolescence. This question was addressed u sing a cross-sectional design with 170 early adolescents in fourth grade (n = 60), sixth grade (n = 44), and eighth grade (n = 66). Reports of the beh aviors engaged in by children as well os their perceptions of conflictual a nd positive relationship qualities were obtained. Age-related differences w ere found both in children's perceptions and in behavioral reports of the s ibling relationship. Several prosocial relationship qualities were lower fo r sixth graders and higher for eighth graders. In addition, children's perc eptions of sibling relationship qualities differed by gender composition of the sibling relationship with boy/boy dyads reporting lower levels of posi tive relationship qualities including caring, intimacy, and conflict resolu tion than did either boy/girl or girl/girl dyads.