Using a large-scale Dutch national sample (N = 7,126), the authors examine the importance of similarities and differences in the sibling dyad for the provision of support. Similarities are assumed to enhance attraction and empathy; differences are assumed to be related to different possibilities for exchange. For helping with housework, helping with odd jobs, giving advice, and showing interest, logistic regression models are estimated and similarities and differences in gender, age, educational level, partner status, and whether the siblings have children are examined. The authors find only limited corroboration for the relevance of similarities, both siblings being sisters, or both being childless. Validation for the importance of differences is found, relating to different roles. For instance, older siblings are more supportive toward their younger siblings than the other way around, and the childless support their parenting siblings, especially in young adulthood.
Acock, A.C. (2005). Working with missing values . Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 1012-1028 .
2.
Adams, B.N. (1968). Kinship in an urban setting. Chicago: Markham .
3.
Allan, G. (1977). Sibling solidarity . Journal of Marriage and Family, 39, 177-184 .
4.
Allen, K.R. , & Pickett, R.S. (1987). Forgotten streams in the family life course: Utilization of qualitative retrospective interviews in the analysis of lifelong single women's family careers . Journal of Marriage and Family, 49, 517-526 .
5.
Batson, C.D. (1991). The altruism question: Toward a social-psychological answer. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum .
6.
Becker, G.S. (1976). The economic approach to human behavior. Chicago: University of Chicago Press .
7.
Becker, G.S. (1991). A treatise on the family. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press .
8.
Bedford, V.H. (1989). Sibling research in historical perspective: The discovery of a forgotten relationship . American Behavioral Scientist, 33, 6-18 .
9.
Bedford, V.H. (1995). Sibling relationships in middle and old age. In R. Blieszner & V. H. Bedford (Eds.), Handbook of aging and the family (pp. 201-222). Westport, CT: Greenwood .
10.
Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. London: Tavistock .
11.
Buhrke, R.A. , & Fuqua, D.R. (1987). Sex differences in same- and cross-sex supportive relationships . Sex Roles, 17, 339-352 .
12.
Campbell, L.D. , Connidis, I.A. , & Davies, L. (1999). Sibling ties in later life: A social network analysis . Journal of Family Issues, 20, 114-148 .
13.
Cantor, M.H. (1979). Neighbors and friends: An overlooked resource in the informal support system . Research on Aging, 1, 434-463 .
14.
Cicirelli, V.G. (1980). A comparison of college women's feelings toward their siblings and parents . Journal of Marriage and Family , 42, 111-118 .
15.
Cicirelli, V.G. (1985). Sibling relationships throughout the life cycle . In L. L'Abate (Ed.), The handbook of family psychology and therapy (Vol. 1, pp. 177-214). Chicago: Dorsey Press .
16.
Cicirelli, V.G. (1989). Feelings of attachment to siblings and well-being in later life . Psychology and Aging, 4, 211-216 .
17.
Cicirelli, V.G. (1991). Sibling relationships in adulthood . Marriage & Family Review, 16, 291-310 .
18.
Cicirelli, V.G. (1995). Sibling relationships across the life span. New York: Plenum .
19.
Cicirelli, V.G. , Coward, R.T. , & Dwyer, J. (1992). Siblings as caregivers for impaired elders . Research on Aging, 14, 331-350 .
20.
Condon, J.W. , & Crano, W. (1988). Inferred evaluation and the relation between attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction . Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 789-797 .
21.
Connidis, I.A. (1989). Siblings as friends in later life . American Behavioral Scientist, 33, 81-93 .
22.
Connidis, I.A. (1992). Life transitions and the adult sibling tie: A qualitative study . Journal of Marriage and Family, 54, 972-982 .
23.
Connidis, I.A. (2001). Family ties & aging. London: Sage .
24.
Connidis, I.A. , & Campbell, L.D. (1995). Closeness, confiding, and contact among siblings in middle and late adulthood . Journal of Family Issues, 16, 722-745 .
25.
Connidis, I.A. , & Davies, L. (1990). Confidants and companions in later life: The place of family and friends . Journals of Gerontology, 45, 141-149 .
26.
Crosbie-Burnett, M. , Lewis, E.A. , Sullivan, S. , Podolsky, J. , & Mantilla de Souza, R. (2005). Advancing theory through research: The case of extrusion in stepfamilies. In V. L. Bengtson , A. C. Acock , K. R. Allen , P. Dilworth-Anderson , & D. M. Klein (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theory & research (pp. 213-238). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
27.
Dilworth-Anderson, P. , Burton, L.M. , & Klein, D.M. (2005). Contemporary and emerging theories in studying families. In V. L. Bengtson , A. C. Acock , K. R. Allen , P. Dilworth-Anderson , & D. M. Klein (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theory & research (pp. 35-58). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
28.
Dykstra, P.A. (1990). Next of (non)kin: The importance of primary relationships for older adults' well-being. Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger .
29.
Dykstra, P.A. , Kalmijn, M. , Knijn, G.C.M. , Komter, A.E. , Liefbroer, A.C. , & Mulder, C.H. (2005). Codebook of the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study, a multi-actor, multi-method panel study on solidarity in family relationships, Wave 1. NKPS working Paper No.4. The Hague , Netherlands: Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute .
30.
Dykstra, P.A. , & Knipscheer, K. (1995). The availability and intergenerational structure of family relationships. In C. P. M. Knipscheer , J. de Jong Gierveld , T. G. van Tilburg , & P. A. Dykstra (Eds.), Living arrangements and social networks of older adults (pp. 3-58). Amsterdam: VU University Press .
31.
Emerson, R.M. (1976). Social exchange theory . Annual Review of Sociology, 2, 335-362 .
32.
Eriksen, S. , & Gerstel, N. (2002). A labor of love or labor itself: Care work among adult brothers and sisters . Journal of Family Issues, 23, 836-856 .
33.
Felling, A.J.A. , Fiselier, A.A.M. , & Van der Poel, M.G.M. (1991). Primaire relaties en sociale steun: Achtergronden van de behoefte aan steun, de aard en omvang van informele steunverlening en daarbij opgedane ervaringen [Primary relationships and social support: Background to the need for support, the nature and amount of informal support giving and related experiences]. Nijmegen , Netherlands: ITS .
34.
Finch, J. , & Mason, J. (1993). Negotiating family responsibilities. London: Routlegde .
35.
Floyd, K. , & Morr, M.C. (2003). Human affection exchange: VII. Affectionate communication in the sibling/spouse/sibling-in-law triad . Communication Quarterly, 51, 247-261 .
36.
Gold, D.T. (1989). Generational solidarity: Conceptual antecedents and consequences . American Behavioral Scientist, 33, 19-32 .
37.
Hogan, D.P. , Eggebeen, D.J. , & Clogg, C.C. (1993). The structure of intergenerational exchanges in American families . American Journal of Sociology, 98, 1428-1458 .
38.
Homans, G.C. (1974). Social behavior: Its elementary forms. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich .
39.
Hoyt, D.R. , & Babchuk, N. (1983). Adult kinship networks: The selective formation of intimate ties with kin . Social Forces, 62, 84-101 .
40.
Johnson, C.L. (1982). Sibling solidarity: Its origin and functioning in Italian-American families . Journal of Marriage and Family , 44, 155-167 .
41.
Kalmijn, M. (1998). Intermarriage and homogamy: Causes, patterns, trends . Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 395-421 .
42.
Kalmijn, M. (2002). Sex segregation of friendship networks: Individual and structural determinants of having cross-sex friends . European Sociological Review, 18, 101-117 .
43.
Klein, D.M. , & White, J.M. (1996). Family theories: An introduction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
44.
Komter, A.E. , & Vollebergh, W.A.M. (2002). Solidarity in Dutch families. Family ties under strain?Journal of Family Issues, 23, 171-188 .
45.
Lazarsfeld, P.F. , & Merton, R.K. (1954). Friendship as a social process: A substantive and methodological analysis. In M. Berger , T. Abel , & C. H. Page (Eds.), Freedom and control in modern society (pp. 18-66). New York: Van Nostrand .
46.
Lee, T.R. , Mancini, J.A. , & Maxwell, J.W. (1990). Sibling relationships in adulthood: Contact patterns and motivations . Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 431-440 .
47.
Liebler, C.A. , & Sandefur, G.D. (2002). Gender differences in the exchange of social support with friends, neighbors, and co-workers at midlife . Social Science Research, 31, 364-391 .
48.
Litwak, E. (1985). Helping the elderly: The complementary roles of informal networks and formal systems. New York: Guilford .
49.
Litwak, E. , & Szelenyi, I. (1969). Primary group structures and their functions: Kin, neighbors, and friends . American Sociological Review , 34, 465-481 .
50.
Marsden, P.V. (1987). Core discussion networks of Americans . American Sociological Review, 52, 122-131 .
51.
Marsden, P.V. (1988). Homogeneity in confiding relations . Social Networks, 10, 57-76 .
52.
McGlone, F. , Park, A. , & Roberts, C. (1999). Kinship and friendship: Attitudes and behaviour in Britain, 1986-1995. In S. McRae (Ed.) , Changing Britain: Families and households in the 1990s (pp. 141-155). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press .
53.
McGoldrick, M. (1991). Women through the family life cycle. In M. McGoldrick , C. M. Anderson , & F. Walsh (Eds.), Women in families: A framework for family therapy (pp. 200-226). New York: Norton .
54.
McPherson, M. , Smith-Lovin, L. , & Cook, J.M. (2001). Birds of a feather: Homophily in social networks . Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 415-444 .
55.
Milardo, R.M. (2005). Generative uncle and nephew relationships . Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 1226-1236 .
56.
Millman, M. (2004). The perfect sister: What draws us together, what drives us apart. Orlando, FL: Hartcourt .
57.
Miner, S. , & Uhlenberg, P. (1997). Intragenerational proximity and the social role of sibling neighbors after midlife . Family Relations, 46, 145-153 .
58.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. London: Tavistock .
59.
Monden, C. (2003). Education, inequality and health: The impact of partners and the life course. Nijmegen , Netherlands: Katholieke UniversiteitNijmegen .
60.
Neale, J. (2004). No friend like a sister: Exploring the relationship between sisters. Wellington , New Zealand: Victoria University Press .
61.
Newman, J. (1991). College students' relationships with siblings . Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20, 629-644 .
62.
O'Bryant, S. (1988). Sibling support and older widows' well-being . Journal of Marriage and Family, 50, 173-183 .
63.
Parrott, T.M. , & Bengtson, V.L. (1999). The effects of earlier intergenerational affection, normative expectations, and family conflict on contemporary exchanges of help and support . Research on Aging , 21, 73-105 .
64.
Pierce, G.R. , Sarason, B.R. , Sarason, I.G. , Joseph, H.J. , & Henderson, C.A. (1996). Conceptualizing and assessing social support in the context of the family. In G. Pierce , B. R. Sarason , & I. G. Sarason (Eds.), Handbook of social support and the family (pp. 3-23). New York: Plenum .
65.
Quadagno, J. (2005). Aging and the life course: An introduction to social gerontology (3rd ed.)New York: McGraw Hill .
66.
Riggio, H.R. (2000). Measuring attitudes toward adult sibling relationships: The Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 707-728 .
67.
Rosenthal, C.J. (1985). Kinkeeping in the familial division of labor . Journal of Marriage and Family, 47, 965-974 .
68.
Ross, H.G. , & Milgram, J.I. (1982). Important variables in adult sibling relationships: A qualitative study. In M. E. Lamb & B. Sutton-Smith (Eds.), Sibling relationships: Their nature and significance across the lifespan (pp. 225-249). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum .
69.
Schvaneveldt, J.D. , & Ihinger, M. (1979). Sibling relationships in the family. In W. R. Burr , R. Hill , F. I. Nye , & I. L. Reiss (Eds.), Contemporary theories about the family: Research-based theories (Vol. 1, pp. 453-467). New York: Free Press .
70.
Stein, C.H. , Wemmerus, V.A. , Ward, M. , Gaines, M.E. , Freeberg, A.L. , & Jewell, T.C. (1998). “ Because they're my parents”: An intergenerational study of felt obligations and parental caregiving . Journal of Marriage and Family, 60, 611-622 .
71.
Suggs, P.K. (1989). Predictors of association among older siblings: A black/white comparison . American Behavioral Scientist, 33, 70-80 .
72.
Teti, D.M. (1992). Sibling interaction. In V. B. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of social development: A lifespan perspective (pp. 201-226). New York: Plenum .
73.
Troll, L.E. (1975). Early and middle adulthood: The best is yet to be - maybe. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole .
74.
Verbakel, E. , & De Graaf, P.M. (2004). Contacten tussen broers en zussen: Traditionaliteit, homogeniteit en restricties [Contacts between siblings: Tradionalism, homogeneity and restrictions] . Mens & Maatschappij, 79, 389-410 .
75.
Verbrugge, L.M. (1977). The structure of adult friendship choices . Social Forces, 56, 576-597 .
76.
Weaver, S.E. , Coleman, M. , & Ganong, L. (2003). The sibling relationship in young adulthood: Sibling functions and relationship perceptions as influenced by sibling pair composition . Journal of Family Issues, 24, 245-263 .
77.
Wellman, B. , & Wortley, S. (1989). Brothers' keepers: Situating kinship relations in broader networks of social support . Sociological Perspectives , 32, 273-306 .
78.
Wellman, B. , & Wortley, S. (1990). Different strokes from different folks: Community ties and social support . American Journal of Sociology, 96, 558-588 .
79.
White, L.K. (2001). Sibling relationships over the life course: A panel analysis . Journal of Marriage and Family, 63, 555-568 .
80.
White, L.K. , & Riedmann, A. (1992). Ties among adult siblings . Social Forces, 71, 85-102 .
81.
Yourglich, A. (1964). Explorations in sociological study of sibling systems . Family Life Coordinator, 13, 91-94 .
82.
Zablocki, B.D. , & Moss Kanter, R. (1976). The differentiation of life-styles . Annual Review of Sociology, 2, 269-298 .
