Sibling relationship quality: An examination of compensatory patterns
Abstract
This dissertation included two studies focused on identifying possible patterns of compensation among adolescent-aged youth and their siblings. The first study examined if sibling relationships compensate for, and/or exacerbate, associations between family processes and adolescent adjustment. Two subsamples from the Flourishing Families Project (FFP) dataset were used, using data collected at Wave 3 in 2009 and Wave 4 in 2010. Using the first subsample of families (N = 386), this study assessed whether or not sibling relationship quality moderated the association between parent-child relationship quality (at Wave 3) and adolescent outcomes (at Wave 4). Results indicated that sibling affection moderated the relationship between poor mother-child connectedness and adolescent internalizing. Using a second subsample ( N = 252), excluding all divorced, separated, and single-parent families, this study examined if sibling relationship quality moderated the relationship between coparenting and adolescent outcomes, as well as between marital conflict and adolescent outcomes. Results indicated that sibling affection moderated the association between mothers' reports of coparenting quality and adolescent self-regulation. The second study in this dissertation examined if parent-child connectedness, coparenting quality, and marital conflict influence the normative trajectory of sibling relationship quality during adolescence. Using three waves of data collected by FFP, a series of growth curve models were analyzed to examine whether each of the identified family processes influenced the rate of change in sibling relationship quality over time. Results indicated that mothers' reports of parent-child connectedness influenced the rate of change in sibling affection; fathers' reports of coparenting influenced the rate of change in sibling hostility. Specifically, mother-child connectedness resulted in decreased affection over time; fathers' undermining coparenting resulted in decreased sibling hostility. The latter finding provides support for social provision theory and the sibling compensating hypothesis. Results from both studies have implications for theory and intervention development.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Sprenkle, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology|Psychology
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