A recent study carried out on just under 400 families in Seattle with multiple siblings, one of whom was aged between 10-14 showed having a sister promoted positive mental health in their siblings.
The study showed that: “having a sister protected adolescents from feeling lonely, unloved, guilty, self-conscious and fearful. It didn’t matter whether the sister was younger or older, or how far apart the siblings were age wise.”
Girls are generally more talkative than boys and if you have a sister, you’re more likely to discuss issues that are troubling you.
And if you argue a lot with your sibling that’s not a bad thing either as the study shows it gives youngsters a chance to regain control of their emotions which is a very useful skill in adulthood.
When siblings are not arguing the author of the study says it’s important to encourage sibling affection as this will be important when they reach adolescence.
Siblings rock and those of us that have them are lucky! Please share if you have a sibling and want to remind them how special they are.