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The association between birth order and self-reported personality characteristics of siblings in a within-family design

Consten, C. P. (2017) The association between birth order and self-reported personality characteristics of siblings in a within-family design.

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Abstract:The current study aims to investigate the association between the birth order position of siblings and different personality constructs. Specifically, the birth order effect that states that birth order leads to the development of different personality characteristics among children. Most studies examining the birth order effect compared individuals from different families (between-family design), whilst this study used a within-family design to compare a minimum of two fully biologically related siblings with self-report questionnaires on different personality characteristics. It was hypothesized that successive siblings differ from each other compared to non-successive siblings who are alike on these variables. Also, it was hypothesized that the number of siblings in the family is associated with birth order. No significant correlation could be found between birth order and the measured personality constructs. Different associations were found in families with two and three or more siblings. In the current sample, no confirmation for a birth order effect on the measured personality constructs was found. The within-family design may be a well-fitting design to detect the birth order effect. More research in larger samples using a within-family design should be done.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/73480
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