Conditions of sibling support in adolescence

This study examined the nature and extent of adolescent siblings' supportiv e roles and the conditions under which siblings provide support to one anot her about familial and nonfamilial issues. Data were collected from 185 ado lescent firstborn (M age = 16 years) and secondborn (M age = 13 years) sibl ing pairs. In home interviews, siblings reported on family experiences and psychosocial functioning during the past year. In a series of 7 evening tel ephone interviews, siblings reported on their shared daily activities. Find ings suggested that both older and younger siblings view older siblings as sources of support about nonfamilial issues such as social and scholastic a ctivities and that siblings assume equally supportive roles about familial issues. Further, the results suggested that family background characteristi cs, sibling relationship qualities, and adolescents' psychosocial functioni ng were linked to the nature and extent of sibling support.