IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
A new study says boys benefit just as much as girls from having a brother or sister, a finding that surprised family scholars who previously thought girls benefited more than boys from having a sibling.
"In our study, most relationships were not as important for boys as they were for girls," says study co-author Laura Padilla-Walker. "But the sibling relationship was different -- they seemed to report relying on sibling affection just as much as girls do. It's an area where parents and therapists could really help boys."
Having a sibling instills sympathy, but a quality relationship between siblings promotes altruism, concluded Dr. Padilla-Walker and co-author Jim Harper of Brigham Young University.
They followed 308 randomly selected pairs of teenage siblings for three years during which they tracked their relationships with friends and family.
On the contrary, boys who had hostile relationships with their siblings were more likely to have behavioral problems and depression. Researchers say it's up to parents to encourage strong bonds.
"The absence of conflict does not mean the presence of affection," says Dr. Padilla-Walker. "It's okay if siblings fight but help them get through that and have other positive interactions."
The study was published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.
AFP RELAXNEWS