Leiden University Student Repository

Wassen, Merel (2022)

Broers en zussen: geliefde rivalen: Een onderzoek naar de samenhang tussen kindfactoren en agressie bij broers en zussen in de adolescentiefase

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Aim: The relationship between siblings is unique for its duration and intensity in one’s life. When this relationship is hostile, it is plausible that siblings experience negative consequences. For example, siblings may have more externalizing and internalizing behaviour problems like antisocial behaviour or a low self-esteem. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine whether the child characteristics birth order, gender composition, and age gap are associated with aggression between siblings in adolescence. Method: Data were collected among 34 sibling pairs. In general, 6 brother-brother pairs, 23 brother-sister/sister-brother pairs, and 5 sister-sister pairs were included. The age of the participants ranged from 10 to 18 years old. The average age of the oldest brother/sister of the sibling pair was 14.65 years old (SD = 1.90) and the average age of the youngest brother/sister of the sibling pair was 11.71 years old (SD = 1.69). Sibling aggression was measured...Show moreAim: The relationship between siblings is unique for its duration and intensity in one’s life. When this relationship is hostile, it is plausible that siblings experience negative consequences. For example, siblings may have more externalizing and internalizing behaviour problems like antisocial behaviour or a low self-esteem. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine whether the child characteristics birth order, gender composition, and age gap are associated with aggression between siblings in adolescence. Method: Data were collected among 34 sibling pairs. In general, 6 brother-brother pairs, 23 brother-sister/sister-brother pairs, and 5 sister-sister pairs were included. The age of the participants ranged from 10 to 18 years old. The average age of the oldest brother/sister of the sibling pair was 14.65 years old (SD = 1.90) and the average age of the youngest brother/sister of the sibling pair was 11.71 years old (SD = 1.69). Sibling aggression was measured with the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales – sibling version (CTS2-SP). In the current study, merely subscales for physical assault and verbal aggression were used and were combined to compose aggression. Results: The results showed that there was no difference found between older and younger siblings and their mutual aggression. Moreover, no difference was found between gender composition and sibling aggression. Finally, no coherence was found between age gap and aggression nor between gender of both siblings and aggression. Conclusion: In contrast to previous studies, child characteristics were not related to sibling aggression in adolescence. Future research should include a more objective method of measuring sibling aggression in addition to questionnaires. Furthermore, the use of a high-risk sample is recommended for future studies. More research is necessary to get a more complete view of which child characteristics are related to sibling aggression in adolescence.Show less

Sibling aggression

birth order

gender composition

age gap

CTS2-SP

Author

Wassen, Merel

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Forensische Gezinspedagogiek

Supervisors

Berkel, S.R. van

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl