Older siblings' Familism Values and Sibling Relationships in Latinx Families

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: PS 12 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Solidarity, close relationships, interdependence, and responsibility toward family members are some of the elements of familism values that are emphasized in Latinx families (Knight et al., 2010). For Latinx children, such family-oriented values may help to promote close and harmonious family relationships (Sabogal et al., 1987), including among siblings. Indeed, for Mexican-origin adolescents, stronger familism values were associated with feelings of intimacy and closeness with siblings (Updegraff et al., 2005), and in families with closer ties to Mexican culture, interdependence among family members is highly valued (Marín & Marín, 1991)—which may lead to closer and more companionable sibling relationships. To advance this literature, this study examined associations between older siblings’ familism values and siblings’ relationship dynamics (caregiving, positivity, negativity) in middle childhood.

Although siblings are central figures in children’s lives who provide companionship and emotional support, they also may be a focus of rivalry and conflict (McHale et al., 2012). And, sibling support and conflict have been linked to children’s positive and negative adjustment, respectively (Buist et al., 2013). Older siblings, in particular, may have responsibilities for and engage in caregiving of their younger siblings; in these families older siblings familism values may be particularly important for sibling dynamics. In addition, their more gender-differentiated roles (Valenzuela, 1999), mean that older sisters take on more caregiving and family responsibilities than brothers (Azmitia & Brown, 2005).

We tested the hypothesis that older siblings’ familism values would be positively associated with their endorsement of caregiving roles as well as their more positive and less negative sibling relationships, controlling for background characteristics and mothers’ familism values. We also tested the moderating role of older sibling gender, expecting stronger associations for dyads with older sisters versus brothers.

Participants were older (45% female; Mage = 10.6; SD = .39) and younger siblings (51% female; Mage = 8.3, SD = 1.06), and their mothers (95% biological) in 199 Latinx families (82% Mexican-origin) living in a southwestern state. Siblings rated their familism values (Knight et al., 2010) and caregiving roles (Updegraff et al., 2016) during afterschool sessions, and their daily sibling positive and negative relationship interactions (Blyth & Foster-Clark, 1987; Stocker & McHale, 1992) in seven daily diary phone interviews. Mothers reported on their familism values (Knight et al., 2010) and on the sibling relationship (Stocker &McHale, 1992) during interviews. All interviews were conducted in participants’ preferred language (67% of mothers were interviewed in Spanish, and 93% of siblings in English). Older siblings’ familism was associated with stronger endorsement of caregiving roles, and both more positive daily sibling interactions and mothers’ ratings of sibling positivity, but not with daily sibling negativity (daily diary calls) or conflict (rated by mothers), after accounting for demographic factors and mothers’ familism values. Older sibling gender did not prove a significant moderator. Findings highlight the protective effects of child familism values in Latinx children’s sibling relationships. We discuss the importance of future research on this understudied but central family relationship in a large subgroup of U.S. children and families.

Authors

• Julissa G. Duran, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Kimberly Updegraff, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Susan McHale, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor, Harvard University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mark E. Feinberg, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Daye Son, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author