Describe how sibling interactions adapt to development at adolescence

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Like parent?child relationships, sibling interactions adapt to development at adolescence. As younger siblings become more self-sufficient, they accept less direction from their older brothers and sisters. Also, as teenagers become more involved in friendships and romantic relationships, they invest less time and energy in siblings, who are part of the family from which they are trying to establish autonomy. As a result, sibling relationships often become less intense, in both positive and negative feelings. Nevertheless, attachment between siblings remains strong for most young people. Overall, siblings who established a positive bond in early childhood continue to display greater affection and caring, which contribute to more favorable adolescent adjustment, including increased academic engagement, empathy, and prosocial behavior. In contrast, sibling negativity—frequent conflict, coercive exchanges, and aggression—is associated with internalizing symptoms (anxiety and depression) and externalizing difficulties (conduct problems, bullying, and drug use). Culture also influences the quality of sibling relationships. For example, the Hispanic cultural ideal of familism, which highly values close family bonds, fosters harmonious sibling relationships.