ABSTRACT
Sibling relationships are not static, changing as children move through different developmental periods. Nor are they played out in a social vacuum, but they are embedded within the context of relationships with other family members and peers. These ecological realities make it difficult to understand fully the changing nature of sibling relationships without simultaneously considering developmental changes in other relationships. Accordingly, the purpose of this chapter is to examine the changing nature of sibling relationships vis-à-vis other relationships during middle childhood and adolescence, drawing on several studies that Wyndol Furman and I have conducted (Buhrmester & Fur-man, 1987, 1990; Furman & Buhrmester, 1985a, 1985b, in press; Furman, Jones, Buhrmester, & Adler, 1989). The primary point of reference is relationships with friends, although other relationships (particularly those with parents and romantic partners) are also considered as points of comparison. I begin by discussing a number of different dimensions along which children’s relationships can be characterized.
