CLOSENESS IN YOUNG-ADULT SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS - AFFECTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

What aspects of the relationships of young adult siblings are related to closeness or distance? This study takes a process approach to answe ring this question, contrasting it with the status approach of family structure variables. Close and distant sibling pairs were compared on physiological variables and specific aspects of warmth, conflict, and power during two conversations - one on enjoyable topics and one on to pics of disagreement. While there was no evidence that sibling closene ss was related to family structure variables, differences in closeness were found in affective patterns and physiological responses during s ibling interaction. Interaction between close siblings was characteriz ed not only by higher positive affect but also by fewer power struggle s and lower heart rate reactivity. Close siblings also had higher scor es on emotional empathy and cognitive aspects of empathy such as persp ective-taking than distant siblings. The developmental importance of c onsidering power struggles in young adult sibling relationships was al so discussed.