AbstractsPsychology

An Analysis of Childhood Sibling Relationship as Mediator of the Link between Sibling Size and Adulthood Social Interaction

by Keyi Cai




Institution: Brandeis University
Department:
Year: 2014
Keywords: Childhood Sibling Relationships; Sibship Size; Social Interaction
Record ID: 2045444
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10192/26290http://bir-test.unet.brandeis.edu/bitstream/10192/26290/2/license.txt


Abstract

There are four variables that are generally included in study of sibling relationships: birth order, sibship size, gender difference and age space. Prior study has focused on the effect of birth order but places less emphasis on sibship size. The present research proposes three studies. Firstly, I propose to use the General Linear Model to investigate how sibling size affects childhood sibling relationships. Secondly, I propose to use a regression model to investigate how childhood sibling relationships affect social interaction in adulthood. Finally, I use the Sobel Test to find the relationship between sibship size and social interaction in adulthood mediated through the effect of sibling relationships. Five hundred Boston-­‐ area college students are collected to participate in the study by completing a set of questionnaires. I expect a larger sibship size will negatively impact a iv child’s sibling relationship, which in turn negatively affects his or her social interaction in adulthood. This research promises to add to the larger discussion of childhood influences on individual outcome in adulthood by emphasizing the significant role of sibship size on a child’s development.