Jealousy Links Comparisons with Siblings to Adjustment among Emerging Adults

• Published date: 01 April 2021
• Author: Meghan K. Hamwey,Shawn D. Whiteman
• Date: 01 April 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12428

M K. H Purdue University

S D. W Utah State University

Jealousy Links Comparisons with Siblings to

Adjustment among Emerging Adults

Objective: To explore the correlates and impli-

cations of sibling jealousy during emerging

adulthood.

Background: Rooted in research and the-

ory on parental differential treatment (PDT)

and social comparisons, we expected that

more frequent social comparisons between

siblings—specically, PDT as well as upward

comparisons (“my sibling is better off than I

am”) and downward comparisons (“I am better

off than my sibling”)—are positively linked

to sibling jealousy, which, in turn, is positively

related individual and relationalmaladjustment.

Method: Participants included 454 young

adults (M=22.44, SD =1.50 years of age) who

participated in Internet-based surveys recruited

via Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Results: Social comparisons between siblings

generally predicted feelings of sibling jealousy,

which, in turn, were positively related to young

adults’ depressive symptoms and sibling con-

ict. Although PDT was salient in the lives

of these emerging adults, siblings’ other social

comparisons were more strongly linked to their

internalizing symptoms and sibling relationship

qualities.

Conclusion: These ndings ll a gap in knowl-

edge about the nature and implications of sibling

The New York City Department of Health and Mental

Hygiene, 30-30 47th Avenue, Suite 414, Long Island City,

NY 11101 (mhamwey@health.nyc.gov).

Key Words: depression, emotions, emerging adulthood,

family relationships, sibling relationships.

relationships during emerging adulthood and

clarify the links between young adults’ cogni-

tions (PDT, social comparisons), affective states

(jealousy), and behaviors (depressive symptoms,

sibling relationship qualities).

Implications: Sibling relationships should be

reected on more broadly across the life course

because family and sibling processes permeate

the lives of individuals well after moving away

from their family of origin. In particular, it is

important for those who work with young adults,

including practitioners, to consider the impli-

cations sibling relationships have for individ-

ual and relational adjustment during emerging

adulthood. This includes focusing on mitigat-

ing the negative implications of sibling com-

parisons and sibling jealousy, which continue

into emerging adulthood, and ultimately may

enhance young adults’ emotional and behav-

ioral well-being.

Despite their ubiquity, siblings are an under-

researched population, particularly during

emerging adulthood (McHale, Updegraff, &

Whiteman, 2012). Emotional bonds formed

between siblings in childhood and adoles-

cence are strong and often polarizing (Scharf,

Shulman, & Avigad-Spitz, 2005), yet little is

known about their experiences during emerging

adulthood. During this period of life, relation-

ships change as individuals move from their

family of origin, nish their formal education,

begin their careers, and embark on longer term

romantic relationships. Given these changes, it

Family Relations 70 (April 2021): 483–497 483

DOI:10.1111/fare.12428