Longitudinal Linkages between Older and Younger Sibling Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Sibling Relationship Quality

Kirsten L. Buist*, Marloes S. van Tergouw, Hans M. Koot, Susan Branje

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The sibling relationship has an important impact on children’s emotional functioning, but it is yet unclear whether and how sibling relationship quality affects adolescent depressive symptoms over time. This study contributes to existing knowledge by examining the relative importance of three aspects of sibling relationship quality (i.e., support, conflict and power balance) on the one hand and sibling depressive symptoms on the other hand in predicting adolescent depressive symptoms over time. Additionally, this study examined whether these influence patterns were moderated by perceived sibling relationship quality and by dyadic gender composition. Across six annual waves, 412 Dutch adolescents (57% boys; M age = 12.34 years) and their older siblings (47% boys; M age = 15.36 years) reported on depressive symptoms and sibling relationship quality. Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that only sibling depressive symptoms and not perceived relationship quality predicted adolescent depressive symptoms one year later. This effect was not moderated by sibling relationship quality or gender composition. These results indicate that sibling depressive symptoms may be a risk factor for adolescent depressive symptoms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence
Volume48
Issue number6
Early online date8 Mar 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2019

Funding

Data of the RADAR study were used. RADAR has been financially supported by main grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (GB-MAGW 480-03-005, GB-MAGW 480-08-006), and Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving (SASS), a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research to the Consortium Individual Development (CID; 024.001.003), and various other grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the VU University Amsterdam, and Utrecht University. Funding Data of the RADAR study were used. RADAR has been financially supported by main grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (GB-MAGW 480-03-005, GB-MAGW 480-08-006), and Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving (SASS), a grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research to the Consortium Individual Development (CID; 024.001.003), and various other grants from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the VU University Amsterdam, and Utrecht University.

FundersFunder number
Stichting Achmea Slachtoffer en Samenleving
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Universiteit Utrecht
Not added480-08-006, 1900121989, GB-MAGW 480-03-005, 2300153216, 024.001.003, GB-MAGW 480-08-006, 2300176472, 480-03-005

    Keywords

    • Adolescents
    • Depressive symptoms
    • Sibling relationship quality
    • Siblings

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Longitudinal Linkages between Older and Younger Sibling Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Sibling Relationship Quality'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this