Livets längsta relation: en kvantitativ studie om kvalitet i syskonrelationer och dess kopplingar till välbefinnande, rivalitet, åldersskillnad och andra faktorer

Sammanfattning: This study examined the relationship between the quality of the relationship with the sibling closest in age and factors such as well-being, number of siblings, the gender composition of the sibling relationship, biological kinship, rivalry and age difference. Gender differences were also examined. 470 people participated in a survey focusing on these areas. The results showed that the quality of the sibling relationship is positively correlated with both subjective and psychological well-being. Furthermore, it appeared that rivalry is correlated negatively with sibling relationship quality. Also, respondents with full siblings had higher ratings of the relationship than respondents with half-siblings on certain parameters. Furthermore, the results showed that respondents who had a sibling of same sex rated both childhood relationship and adult relationship quality higher. Some gender differences were also found. For example, women rated sibling relationship quality slightly higher on some subscales. The study showed that the affective component of the quality of sibling relationship had a special position. This component was less affected by external factors such as gender composition, age difference and biological kinship, than the cognitive and behavioral components was. This suggests that the feelings towards a sibling to a certain extent are independent of behavior and thoughts.