London: Scientists have revealed that big families with more children may face increased mental health challenges among siblings, according to a study published in the Journal of Family Issues.
According to reports, a recent study carried out by China and the United States involving over 9,400 eighth graders in China and 9,100 American eighth graders, provided insights into the potential effects of family size on teenagers’ mental health, studied the relationship between the number of siblings and children’s mental health. The study carried out among students with an average age of 14, involved researchers from both countries asking several questions about the children’s mental well-being.
The study suggests that big families may be linked to poorer mental health in teenagers. The research found that in both China and the United States, the mental health of children who are either the only child or have just one sibling exhibit higher mental well-being compared to those with more siblings. On the other hand, children with step-siblings experienced more psychological issues compared to those without step-siblings. The psychological issues were more pronounced in siblings with a significant age difference.
In the United States, children with no or one sibling displayed the best mental health outcomes, while in China, well-being was found to be highest among only children. The study, published in the Journal of Family Issues, reveals that having older siblings and siblings born closely in age had the most detrimental impact on kids’ mental health, with the strongest negative associations observed among siblings born within a year of each other.
Lead researcher Doug Downey, a sociology professor at Ohio State University, suggests that the phenomenon may be explained by “resource dilution.” In families with more children, each child receives fewer resources and attention from parents, potentially affecting their mental health.
Presenting their findings, the scientists suggested that if you think of parents’ resources like a pastry, a child in a smaller family would get the whole pastry. However, when there are more siblings, each child receives less attention and resources from their parents, potentially impacting their mental health.
However, Downey acknowledged that families with many children may differ in other ways that impact their kids’ mental health. The study did not consider the quality of sibling relationships, which could play a significant role.
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