If you’ve grown up alongside a sister, you might not always have been 100% grateful for her.
Arguments, fights, shouting, and—for those with an older sister—the unsolicited ‘advice’ might have played a role in that.
Yet while having a sister to grow up beside might not always have been awesome, findings show having a female sibling can make you a good person.
Research from Brigham Young University (BYU) finds growing up alongside a brother or sister encouraged kids to do good deeds, be kind, and help others.
The evidence revealed that having a sister lead to even more of these good behaviors, irrespective of your age differences.
Evidence for the advantages
“Having a sister protected adolescents from feeling lonely, unloved, guilty, self-conscious and fearful. It didn’t matter whether the sister was younger or older, or how far apart the siblings were age wise,” findings revealed.
The research studied almost 400 parents who had two or more kids, one between ten to fourteen years of age. The study then checked in with the families a year down the line to see if the results held true.
Teens with sisters had definite advantages.
One possible reason sisters may aid our growth is because they talk and interact to a greater extent than males. This is useful if we want to discuss our problems.
The research also offers moms and dads some advice, that you should encourage kids to show affection to one another.
Advantage of protection
BYU Professor Padilla-Walker, who led the study, said: “Once they get to adolescence, it’s going to be a big protective factor.”
She explained that it is fine if your children argue because this allows them to practice emotional management and reconcile at the end of it.
She says, “An absence of affection seems to be a bigger problem than high levels of conflict.”
Our sisters may seem like a pain at times, but we should give thanks for them. As we grow older, we become closer to them and appreciate them more. Three cheers for our sisters!
Please share with your loved ones and help celebrate this special sibling.
