Birth order may affect career interests.

• Position: Psychology - Brief Article

A child's place in the family birth order may play a rote in the type of occupations that will interest him or her as an adult. In two related studies, researchers at Ohio State University, Columbus, found that only children--and, to a certain extent, first-born ones--were more interested in intellectual, cognitive pursuits than later-born offspring were. In contrast, later-born children more likely leaned toward artistic and outdoors-related careers.

These results fit into theories that say place in family birth order will influence personality, indicates professor of psychology Frederick T.L. Leong. "Parents typically place different demands and have different expectations of children depending on their birth order. For example, parents may be extremely protective of only children and worry about their physical safety. That may be why only children are more likely to show interest in academic...