The Importance of Siblings + Friendships (Week 3)

Question 1

First-Born Children

Answer 1

• These individuals are usually self-controlled, adult-orientated, and held at higher expectations.

Question 2

Second Born/Later Born Children

Answer 2

• Less fearful and less anxious.
• More risk taking.

Question 3

Only Children

Answer 3

• Achievement-orientated (higher levels of educations).
• High self-esteem and leadership.
• May have a closer relationship with parents.
• May be a bit spoiled.

Question 4

Friendship

Answer 4

A mutual preference for interaction.

Question 5

Stages of Friendships

Answer 5

1. Early Childhood (3-7 years)

• Playmate

2. Middle Childhood (8-12 years)

• Trust

3. Adolescence (13-17 years)

• Intimacy

Question 6

Early Childhood (3 to 7 years)

Answer 6

Friend is a playmate.

Primary concerns…

• To maximize excitement, entertainment, and enjoyment through play.

Purpose of communication…

• To coordinate play, escalate and de-escalate play activity, talk about actives, and resolve conflicts.

Emotional development…

• To learn to manage arousal during interaction.

Question 7

Middle Childhood (8 to 12 years)

Answer 7

Friendship is built on trust.

Primary concerns…

• To be included by peers, avoid rejection, and present oneself to others in a positive way.

Purpose of communication…

• To share negative gossip with others.

Emotional development…

• To acquire rules for showing feelings.

Question 8

Adolescence (13-17 years)

Answer 8

Friendship is about intimacy.

Primary concerns…

• To explore, know, and define oneself.

Purpose of communication…

• To disclose oneself to others and to solve problems.

Emotional development…

• To integrate logic and emotion and understand the implications of emotions for relationships.

Question 9

Quality of Friendships

Answer 9

• Depressive symptoms and loneliness (low quality).
• Distributive and aggression (conflict).
• Buffer negative family effects (high quality).
• Does NOT cause positive outcomes.

Question 10

Quantity of Friendships

Answer 10

• School involvement.
• At least one friend can protect against depression and victimization.
• Popularity increases the likelihood of making high quality friendships.
• Additive effect of quality AND quantity.

Question 11

Interactions between Relationship Support from Mothers, Fathers, and Best Friends as Related to Adolescent Adjustment During the Transition to High School (reading)

Answer 11

Parental Support: Reduces depression; one supportive parent can compensate for the other.

Friend Support: Helps, but parental support matters more when friend support is low.

Behaviour Issues:

• Boys: Maternal support helps.
• Girls: Paternal support helps.
• Best friend support linked to more behaviour issues.

Gender Differences: Boys rely more on moms, girls on dads for behaviour.

Implications: Strong parent relationships are key for adolescent adjustment.

Limitations: Self-reports, mostly two-parent families; needs diverse samples.