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Sibling Relationships in Adulthood: Research Findings and New Frontiers
Author(s) -
Gilligan Megan,
Stocker Clare M.,
Jewsbury Conger Katherine
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of family theory and review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.454
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1756-2589
pISSN - 1756-2570
DOI - 10.1111/jftr.12385
Subject(s) - sibling , developmental psychology , psychology , sibling relationship , life course approach , meaning (existential) , social relationship , social psychology , situated , psychotherapist , artificial intelligence , computer science
Sibling relationships, the longest‐lasting relationships in most people's lives, have been understudied compared to other family relationships. The goal of this review is to increase understanding of sibling relationships from midlife to older adulthood by integrating aspects of psychological and sociological theories, including social exchange, family systems, and life course perspectives, to better understand the structure, function, processes, and meaning of sibling relationships in middle and later life. This theoretical integration promotes a comprehensive study of sibling relationships by considering individual and family characteristics as well as the broader social and cultural contexts in which sibling ties are situated. Further, this integration facilitates the study of sibling relationships across time. In addition to reviewing current knowledge about sibling relationships in adulthood, we discuss directions for future research, the methodological practices necessary to advance this research, and the translational significance of research on adult sibling relationships for aging populations.