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THE REACTION OF FIRST‐BORN CHILDREN TO THE BIRTH OF A SIBLING: MOTHERS' REPORTS
Author(s) -
Dunn Judy,
Kendrick Carol,
MacNamee Rosanne
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1981.tb00527.x
Subject(s) - sibling , psychology , temperament , developmental psychology , post partum , pregnancy , personality , social psychology , biology , genetics
SUMMARY The reactions of first‐born children to the birth of a sibling, as reported by their mothers, were studied in 40 families. Increased clinging, withdrawal and tearfulness were negatively related to positive interest in the baby, but other aspects of disturbed behaviour were not significantly associated with each other, or with positive interest. Differences in temperament, in the quality of the mother‐first‐born relationship, in age and in the mothers' State in the post partum weeks were found to be associated with differences in the reaction of the first‐born children.