1-174 - The Influence of Sibling Relationship Processes on Educational, Vocational, and Adult Identity Attainment

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Compared to research on the influence of peers or parents, research on the influence of siblings on adolescents’ and emerging adults’ development is lacking (McHale et al., 2012). Furthermore, research within the field of sibling relationships has emphasized influences on problem behaviors, with less emphasis on positive behaviors. Given that the sibling relationship is both compensatory (older siblings model appropriate behaviors for younger siblings) and reciprocal (peer-like play and conversational behaviors; Dunn, 2002), the relational dynamics between siblings are just as likely to promote positive and appropriate behaviors as they are to influence negative and problem behaviors. In the proposed symposium, the papers focus on the degree to which the sibling relationship may influence adolescents’ educational/academic adjustment, and later, emerging adults’ vocational identity and successful transition to adulthood. Paper 1 examines changes in and associations between sibling support and school commitment from early to middle adolescence. Paper 2 focuses on the processes linking older sibling’s emotional support, adolescents’ reports of modeling their older siblings, and adolescents’ educational adjustment from early to late adolescence. Paper 3 investigates how emerging adults’ sibling conflict frequency and content during their first year of college predicts emerging adults’ vocational identity, adult identity status, and feelings about the transition to adulthood in their final year of college. The findings from these papers highlight the importance of sibling relationships for adolescents’ and emerging adults’ future educational, vocational, and adult identity development. An expert in adolescent and emerging adult sibling relationships will discuss the papers and provide commentary.

Sub Unit

• Family Context & Processes

Chair

• Sarah Killoren, University of Missouri

Discussant

• Shawn Whiteman Whiteman, Utah State University

Individual Presentations

• Change in Sibling Support and School Commitment across Adolescence - Presenting Author: Christy Rogers, University of California Davis; Kathi J. Conger, University of California, Davis Human Development and Family Studies Group

• I Look Up To You: Younger Siblings’ Modeling and Educational Outcomes - Presenting Author: Samantha Sang, Arizona State University, T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics; Annabella M. Gallagher, Arizona State University; Kimberly Updegraff, Arizona State University; Sue A. Rodríguez De Jesús, Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College; Sally I-Chun Kuo, Virginia Commonwealth University; Susan M. McHale, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University; Adriana Umana-Taylor, Arizona State University

• Developmental Implications of Sibling Conflict during the Transition to Adulthood - Presenting Author: Anna K. Lindell, University of Missouri - Columbia; Emily Rolan, Purdue University; Sarah Killoren, University of Missouri; Nicole Campione-Barr, University of Missouri