Gifted but equal? Parents’ perspectives on sibling relationships in families with gifted and non-gifted children

ABSTRACT Childhood sibling relationships shape an individual’s interactions throughout life. To date, there have been only a few studies on sibling relationships in families with gifted and non-gifted children, and these have yielded mixed results. Based on the Family Systems Theory (FST) as a conceptual framework, specifically the homeostasis principle, the current study explores how parents in families with gifted and non-gifted children affect sibling relationships. Interviews with 40 parents of gifted children in Israel revealed three higher-order themes: differential equity, artificial equity, and situational equity. From an FST perspective, results suggest a preliminary typology that describes the parental contribution toward rebalanced sibling relationships. Despite good intentions, using artificial and situational strategies could provide unfavorable results for the gifted and the non-gifted children. The proposed typology may contribute toward developing a systemic theory of sibling relationships.