Work

Growing Up Without Siblings and Adult Sociability Behaviors

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: We use data from the National Survey of Families and Households to examine a range of sociability behaviors for adults who grew up with and without siblings. Compared to adults who grew up with siblings, adults who grew up without siblings have less frequent social activities with relatives, and the difference is greater among those who did not live with both parents growing up. Differences in engaging in certain social events between adults who grew up without and with siblings vary by age. Differences in participation in sports, youth, or school related group activities for those who grew up without and with siblings vary by gender. Thus, there are some differences in adult sociability behaviors between those who grew up with and without siblings; however, our pattern of findings suggests that these differences are not large or pervasive across a range of sociability behaviors and may grow smaller with age.

Source: Journal of Family Issues

DOI: 10.1177/0192513x11398945

Authors: Katherine Trent, Glenna Spitze

Institution: University at Albany, State University of New York

Language: English

Topic: Family Dynamics and Relationships

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, University at Albany, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development