Sibling jealousy in early childhood: longitudinal links to sibling relationship quality

Abstract

The current investigation examined the long-term prediction of sibling jealousy assessed in a laboratory-based paradigm on sibling relationship quality 2 1/2 years later. This multi-method longitudinal study included mothers, fathers, and two children from 35 families. Younger siblings were 16 months and older siblings were, on average, 4 years at Time 1. Positive longitudinal associations were found between older siblings' jealousy reactions when interacting with the father at Time 1 and sibling conflict at Time 2. These associations continued to exist even when older siblings' behaviour during the mother sessions was considered. Children's inability to regulate their jealous reactions may be indicative of lower levels of emotion regulation skills, which may, in turn, translate to poorer sibling interactions years later. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.