Birth Order, Traits and Emotions in the Sibling System as Predictive Factors of Couple Relationships

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the connection between an individual's traits, emotional functioning and role division - which are influenced by birth order in the family of origin - and traits, emotional functioning and role division in the later spousal-couple context. 69 subjects which are either first-borns, middle or youngest children in their family of origin, were administered questionnaires measuring traits and emotions in both their past sibling and present couple system. Additionally, a role division questionnaire measured role division in their couple system. According to study's hypothesis, a correlation was found between the emotions expressed in the sibling system and in the couple sys- tem; traits were found to be correlated between the sibling and the couple systems only for first-borns and middle chil- dren. Contrary to research's hypothesis, no effect was found of birth order, on role division in the couple system. The find- ings' practical and methodological implications are discussed.