Examined 30 Indonesian toddlers' play with their mothers and siblings. Found that the level of object play and mutual involvement in cooperative social pretend play increased with age. Findings suggest that older siblings can be effective facilitators of pretend play with younger children. (MDM)

Two studies examined preschoolers' conflict behavior in peer and sibling dyads. Found that conflicts were quickly resolved in nonaggressive ways, and they occurred within the context of ongoing, coordinated play. Most conflicts occurred between same-gender dyads. Age was also found to influence conflict behavior. (HTH)

Identified those aspects of experiences of siblings of children with cancer that might have impact on school functioning. Also examined extent to which parents and siblings concurred in their reports of siblings' psychosocial functioning and adjustment. Findings from 15 children and adults attending pediatric oncology camp revealed that most…

Assessed differences among self-esteem, locus of control, and career aspirations of 30 college-age siblings of individuals with disabilities (sibling-Ds) and 30 classmates with nondisabled siblings (sibling-Ns). Although sibling-Ds and sibling-Ns reported similar levels of self-esteem, sibling-Ds demonstrated significantly higher levels of…

Used data on 3,625 respondents from National Survey of Families and Households to examine long-term consequences of childhood family structure for adult relationships with parents and siblings. Found that divorced single-parent families were associated with reduced solidarity between parents and children. Custodial mothers' remarriages were…

Examined relative importance of emotional and social isolation to loneliness among very old rural adults (n=119). Found that emotional isolation, specifically loss of spouse, accounted for more loneliness than did social isolation. Hearing acuity and visits with siblings (social isolation variables) also were significant predictors of loneliness.…

The interpersonal relationships of 337 adolescents from Canada, Belgium, and Italy were compared. Important discrepancies were found among the adolescents from the three countries. Family held the most central role for Italian adolescents, whereas friends were more central for Canadians, and Belgians were in between. Variations in cultural context…

Investigates the characteristics of the intrafamily environment that change the intellectual environment of the children and interact with the factor of birth order. Concludes that the effect of birth order is linked: (1) with the gender configuration of sibling relationships; and (2) with various cognitive and personal characteristics of the…

Examined how conflictual and positive sibling relationship qualities differed for fourth, sixth, and eighth graders. Found that several prosocial relationship qualities were lower for sixth graders and higher for eighth graders. Perceptions of relationship qualities differed by gender composition, with boy-boy dyads reporting lower levels of…

Examines sibling socialization of moral orientation (care and justice) during property disputes in 40 dual-parent families with two children, aged 2 and 4 years old. Reveals that the children preferred justice orientation, its use increasing with age, when suggesting how property disputes should be resolved. Includes references. (CMK)

Compared attitudes, expectations, and behaviors of early adolescent girls with an adolescent childbearing sister to those of girls with nonchildbearing adolescent sisters. Found that the younger sisters of childbearing adolescents were consistently different from those of nonchildbearing adolescents on key characteristics known to be correlated…

A review of popular press books and articles published between 1975 and 2000 was conducted to delineate areas in which the advice given to parents about the transition to a second child is consistent with or diverges from results of relevant research. Results highlight the need for researchers and popular press writers to acknowledge their…

This article presents quantitative and qualitative accounts of relational discourses in a random sample of approximately 4100 texts written by Irish young people (aged 10-12 and 14-17 years). The existence of such discourses is indicated by references to family and friends. The article shows that although the majority refer to such ties in their…

The stresses experienced by most families include limitations on time, conditions of employment, financial burdens and sibling rivalry. For the families of a child with a chronic illness, these stresses are often compounded, making family functioning problematic. Chronic illness is marked by permanency and the need for ongoing vigilance with…

This investigation examined participants' perceptions of sibling relational influence on career exploration and decision making. Career path influence on sibling relationships and times when these relationships were most important also were explored. Individual interviews were conducted with urban commuter college students, and narrative data were…