ABSTRACT
There are a number of reasons why sibling interactions may contribute to children's adjustment. Sibling interactions are often involuntary, frequent and begin early, and thus may provide a model for future behaviour and relationships. Moreover, the unique "no-holds-barred" nature of sibling relationships provides an important early context for children to develop key socio–emotional skills. In adolescence, older siblings are often role models and so may provide their younger siblings with an entry point into risky behaviours. This chapter reviews the evidence for links between individual differences in sibling relationship quality and psychological adjustment, focusing particularly on externalising (e.g., conduct disorder, antisocial behaviour) and internalising (e.g., anxiety, depression) problems. It considers the factors that may influence the strength of associations between sibling relationship quality and adjustment, including whether links with adjustment persist into young adulthood and beyond.
