Correlates of Latina college students' dyadic coping with sisters

• Published date: 01 December 2023
• Author: Sarah E. Killoren,Ashley K. Randall,Gabrielle C. Kline,Edna C. Alfaro,Nicole Campione‐Barr
• Date: 01 December 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12814

RESEARCH

Correlates of Latina college students’dyadic coping

with sisters

Sarah E. Killoren

1

| Ashley K. Randall

2

| Gabrielle C. Kline

3

|

Edna C. Alfaro

4

| Nicole Campione-Barr

5

1

Department of Human Development and

Family Science, University of Missouri,

Columbia, MO

2

Department of Counseling and Counseling

Psychology, Arizona State University–Tempe,

Tempe, AZ

3

Department of Counseling and Learning

Sciences, West Virginia University,

Morgantown, WV

4

School of Family and Consumer Sciences,

Texas State University, San Marcos, TX

5

Department of Psychological Sciences,

University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

Correspondence

Sarah E. Killoren, Department of Human

Development and Family Science, University

of Missouri, 122B Gwynn Hall, Columbia,

MO 65211, USA.

Email: killorens@missouri.edu

Funding information

This work was supported by the USDA

National Institute of Food and Agriculture,

Hatch project 1023334.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined Latina college students’

perceptions of sisters’dyadic coping behaviors following

stress disclosure, and how dyadic coping behaviors were

associated with sibling relationship characteristics and

familism values.

Background: Sibling relationships are protective when col-

lege students experience adversity.

Method: The sample included 195 Latina college students

(M

age

=23.25 years, SD =1.93) and path analysis was

conducted to address the study goals.

Results: Latina college students perceived high levels of

supportive, delegated, and common dyadic coping behav-

iors and moderate levels of negative dyadic coping behav-

iors from their sisters. Latina college students who lived

with their sisters perceived more delegated dyadic coping

behaviors than those who lived apart. Sibling intimacy

was positively associated with perceptions of sisters’sup-

portive, delegated, and common dyadic coping, but was

not associated with negative dyadic coping behaviors. Sib-

ling negativity was negatively associated with perceptions

of sisters’supportive and common dyadic coping behav-

iors and positively associated with perceptions of sisters’

negative dyadic coping behaviors. Further, Latina college

students’stronger endorsement of familism values was

associated with greater perceptions of sisters’supportive,

delegated, and common dyadic coping behaviors.

Conclusion: Overall, our study showed that Latina college

students perceived dyadic coping behaviors from their sis-

ters, which were associated with aspects of their sibling

relationship and their endorsement of familism values.

Implications: Continuing to examine dyadic coping in sib-

lings is important as it may have implications for family-

focused prevention and intervention programs.

Received: 14 September 2021 Revised: 16 May 2022 Accepted: 24 November 2022

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12814

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2023;72:2429–2443. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 2429