Work

Prevention versus intervention functions of an online program to strengthen children's sibling relationships

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Objective To address the gap in evidence‐based resources for improving children's sibling relationships, this study examined the differential effectiveness of an established program for families seeking prevention versus intervention services. Background The More Fun With Sisters and Brothers Program has been shown in multiple randomized control studies to strengthen sibling relationships and child and parent emotion regulation. However, similar to other programs, little is known about its effectiveness for helping families improve versus maintain sibling relationship quality. With distinct goals, these two groups may require disparate resources that target different interpersonal processes. Method Based on a holistic assessment, 86 mothers of two children aged 4 to 8 years were classified as either seeking prevention ( n = 38) or intervention ( n = 48) services. The two groups' reports of program implementation, sibling relationship quality, child and maternal emotion regulation, and coparenting were compared across the four‐lesson online program. Results Repeated measures analysis of covariance revealed that, after participation, the intervention‐seeking group perceived greater gains in sibling warmth and reduced agonism and rivalry along with better maternal emotional regulation than the prevention‐seeking group, who reported stable levels of these processes. Both groups reported gains in collaborative coparenting and older child emotion regulation. Conclusion Results highlight the program's utility for promoting sibling relationship quality and maternal emotional regulation for intervention‐seeking families while also helping prevention‐seeking families maintain satisfactory levels of these processes. Implications A “one size fits all” approach should give way to more personalized methods for providing siblings with the specific competencies they need to establish or maintain rewarding relationships.

Source: Family Relations

DOI: 10.1111/fare.70023

Authors: Laurie Kramer, Reshika Sai Devarajan

Institutions: Northeastern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois System

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,590