Abstract

In this article we investigate which structural characteristics of siblings within the dyad cause that some adolescent siblings experience more conflict with each other than others. Regarding the family as a system with a certain status hierarchy, four hypotheses can be formulated about the effects of birth order, spacing and gender constellation. Especially for this study data has been collected of adolescents between 12 and 18 years old from the region of Bruges. Using multilevel analysis, the hypotheses were tested in a sample of 139 dyads. Results indicate that the birth order of the siblings within the dyad and the gender constellation of the dyad determine the amount of perceived conflict in the sibling relationship. The spacing of siblings does not play a role for sibling conflict in this study. Structural characteristics of siblings and dyads explain thus differences between dyads and between siblings within a dyad.

How to Cite:

Sobczyk, O., (2013) “Ongelijkheden in het ervaren van conflict in een adolescente siblingdyade: de effecten van geboortevolgorde, geboorteafstand en gendersamenstelling”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 34(2), 125–148. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86824