This study investigated the narrative characteristics of Turkish and U.S. young adults’ sibling-related turning-point memories across gender, age orders, and cultures. We conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 45 Turkish and 27 U.S. college students who had only one sibling. Participants were asked two main narrative questions: whether they have a close and personal relationship with their sibling and there is a turning point in their sibling relationships. Participants’ answers to these questions were coded on a number of narrative dimensions which are thematic categories, presence of personal relationship, direction of change in relationship quality, narrative style, transformativeness, and emotional valence. Three themes emerged in turning-point memories: developmental events, transitions, and growth; negative life events and challenges; and change in context. Results revealed no significant differences in turning-point memories between females and males, and between Turkish and U.S. populations. The findings indicated the unique role of siblings in the context of significant relationships regardless of gender and culture.
BangerterL. R.WaldronV. R. (2014). Turning points in long distance grandparent–grandchild relationships. Journal of Aging Studies, 29, 88-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2014.01.004.
2.
BauerP.StennesL.HaightJ. (2003). Representation of the inner self in autobiography: Women's and men's use of internal states language in personal narratives. Memory, 11(1), 27–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/741938176
3.
BeckerJ. A.JohnsonA. J.CraigE. A.GilchristE. S.HaighM. M.LaneL. T. (2009). Friendships are flexible, not fragile: Turning points in geographically-close and long-distance friendships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 26(4), 347–369. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407509344310
4.
BridgesK.HoffE. (2014). Older sibling influences on the language environment and language development of toddlers in bilingual homes. Applied Psycholinguistics, 35(2), 225–241. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0142716412000379
5.
BrodyG. H.StonemanZ.McCoyJ. K. (1994). Forecasting sibling relationships in early adolescence from child temperaments and family processes in middle childhood. Child Development, 65(3), 771–784. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00782.x
BuistK. L.DekovićM.MeeusW.Van AkenM. A. (2002). Developmental patterns in adolescent attachment to mother, father and sibling. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31(3), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015074701280
8.
BuistK. L.MetindoganA.CobanS.WatveS.ParanjpeA.KootH. M.Van LierP.BranjeS. J.MeeusW. H. (2017). Cross‐Cultural differences in sibling power balance and its concomitants across three age periods. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2017(156), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.1002/cad.20199
9.
CassinatJ. R.WhitemanS. D.JensenA. C. (2019). Associations between perceptions about siblings' development and emerging adults' adulthood attainment. Personal Relationships, 26(4), 694–712. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12300
10.
CicirelliV. G. (1994). The longest bond: The sibling life cycle. In L’AbateL. (Ed.), Wiley series on personality processes. Handbook of developmental family psychology and psychopathology (p. 44–59). John Wiley & Sons.
11.
CicirelliV. G. (1995). Sibling relationships in cross-cultural perspective. In Sibling relationships across the life span (pp. 69–85). Springer, Boston, MA.
CongerK. J.StockerC.McGuireS. (2009). Sibling socialization: The effects of stressful life events and experiences. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2009(126), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1002/cd.256
14.
CopenC. E.ThomaM. E.KirmeyerS. (2015). Interpregnancy intervals in the United States: Data from the birth certificate and the national survey of family growth. National Vital Statistics Reports: From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, 64(3), 1–10.
15.
CortiJ. K. (2009). Sibling relationships during the young adult years: An analysis of closeness, relational satisfaction, everyday talk, and turning points [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Denver.
16.
EnzK. F.TalaricoJ. M. (2016). Forks in the road: Memories of turning points and transitions. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 30(2), 188–195. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3176
17.
FivushR. (2019). Family narratives and the development of an autobiographical self: Social and cultural perspectives on autobiographical memory. Routledge.
18.
FivushR.HabermasT.WatersT. E.ZamanW. (2011). The making of autobiographical memory: Intersections of culture, narratives and identity. International Journal of Psychology, 46(5), 321–345. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2011.596541
GiorgiA. (1997). The theory, practice, and evaluation of the phenomenological method as a qualitative research procedure. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 28(2), 235–260, https://doi.org/10.1163/156916297x00103
21.
GolishT. D. (2000). Changes in closeness between adult children and their parents: A turning point analysis. Communication Reports, 13(2), 79–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934210009367727
22.
GrysmanA.HudsonJ. A. (2013). Gender differences in autobiographical memory: Developmental and methodological considerations. Developmental Review, 33(3), 239–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2013.07.004
23.
Hacettepe universitesi Nuufus Etutleri Enstitusu. (1999). Turkiye Nufus ve saglik arastirmasi, 1998. Hacettepe Universitesi NIfus EtItleri EnstitusI, Saglik Bakanligi Ana Cocuk Saggligi ve Aile Planlamasi Genel Mudurlugu, Devlet Planlama Teskilati ve Avrupa Birligi, Ankara, Turkiye.
24.
HamweyM. K.RolanE. P.JensenA. C.WhitemanS. D. (2019). “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”: A qualitative examination of sibling relationships during emerging adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(8), 2487–2506. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518789514
25.
HerY. C.BaturZ. Z.VergauwenJ.MortelmansD. (2021). Siblings’ similarities and dissimilarities: A review of theoretical perspectives and empirical insights. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 13(4), 447–462. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12436
26.
HerrickP. (2008). Turning points of closeness in the sibling relationship [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Baylor University.
27.
HodgeC. J.DuerdenM. D.LaylandE. K.LacanientaA.GoatesM. C.NiuX. M. (2017). The association between family leisure and family quality of life: A meta‐analysis of data from parents and adolescents. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 9(3), 328–346. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12202
28.
JensenA. C.KillorenS. E.Campione-BarrN.PadillaJ.ChenB. B. (2022). Sibling relationships in adolescence and young adulthood in multiple contexts: A critical review. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(2), 384–419.
29.
JensenA. C.WhitemanS. D.FingermanK. L. (2018). “Can’t live with or without them:” Transitions and young adults’ perceptions of sibling relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(3), 385–395, https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000361
30.
KağıtçıbaşıC. (2007). Family, self, and human development across cultures: Theory and applications. Routledge.
31.
KimJ. Y.McHaleS. M.Wayne OsgoodD.CrouterA. C. (2006). Longitudinal course and family correlates of sibling relationships from childhood through adolescence. Child Development, 77(6), 1746–1761. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2006.00971.x
32.
MarkusH. R.KitayamaS. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224–253, https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.98.2.224
33.
McAdamsD. P. (1993). The stories we live by: Personal myths and the making of the self. Guilford Press.
34.
McAdamsD. P.BauerJ. J.SakaedaA. R.AnyidohoN. A.MachadoM. A.Magrino‐FaillaK.WhiteK. W.PalsJ. L. (2006). Continuity and change in the life story: A longitudinal study of autobiographical memories in emerging adulthood. Journal of Personality, 74(5), 1371–1400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00412.x
35.
McHaleS. M.UpdegraffK. A.WhitemanS. D. (2012). Sibling relationships and influences in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(5), 913–930. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.01011.x
36.
McHaleS. M.WhitemanS. D.KimJ. Y.CrouterA. C. (2007). Characteristics and correlates of sibling relationships in two-parent African American families. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(2), 227–235, https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.2.227
37.
McLeanK. C.PrattM. W. (2006). Life's little (and big) lessons: Identity statuses and meaning-making in the turning point narratives of emerging adults. Developmental Psychology, 42(4), 714–722, https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.4.714
MilevskyA.HeerwagenM. (2013). A phenomenological examination of sibling relationships in emerging adulthood. Marriage & Family Review, 49(3), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2012.762444
40.
MilevskyA.SmootK.LehM.RuppeA. (2005). Familial and contextual variables and the nature of sibling relationships in emerging adulthood. Marriage & Family Review, 37(4), 123–141, https://doi.org/10.1300/j002v37n04_07
41.
NelsonG.Van AndelA. K.CurwoodS. E.HasfordJ.LoveN.PancerS. M.LoomisC. (2012). Exploring outcomes through narrative: The long-term impacts of Better Beginnings, Better Futures on the turning point stories of youth at ages 18–19. American Journal of Community Psychology, 49(1-2), 294–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-011-9466-6
RiggioH. R. (2000). Measuring attitudes toward adult sibling relationships: The lifespan sibling relationship scale. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17(6), 707–728. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407500176001
44.
ScharfM.ShulmanS.Avigad-SpitzL. (2005). Sibling relationships in emerging adulthood and in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Research, 20(1), 64–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558404271133
45.
SoysalF. (2016). A study on sibling relationships, life satisfaction and loneliness level of adolescents. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(4), 58–67.
46.
SpitzeG. D.TrentK. (2006). Gender differences in adult sibling relations in two‐child families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68(4), 977–992. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00308.x
47.
SpitzeG. D.TrentK. (2018). Changes in individual sibling relationships in response to life events. Journal of Family Issues, 39(2), 503–526. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X16653431
48.
UpdegraffK. A.McHaleS. M.WhitemanS. D.ThayerS. M.DelgadoM. Y. (2005). Adolescent sibling relationships in Mexican American families: Exploring the role of familism. Journal of Family Psychology, 19(4), 512–522, https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.19.4.512
49.
Van VolkomM.MachizC.ReichA. E. (2011). Sibling relationships in the college years: Do gender, birth order, and age spacing matter?North American Journal of Psychology, 13(1), 35.
50.
VygotskyL. S. (1980). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge MA. Harvard University Press.
WhitemanS. D.McHaleS. M.CrouterA. C. (2007a). Competing processes of sibling influence: Observational learning and sibling deidentification. Social Development, 16(4), 642–661. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2005.00312.x
53.
WhitemanS. D.McHaleS. M.CrouterA. C. (2007b). Explaining sibling similarities: Perceptions of sibling influences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(7), 963–972, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9135-5
WhitemanS. D.SolmeyerA. R.McHaleS. M. (2015). Sibling relationships and adolescent adjustment: Longitudinal associations in two-parent African American families. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(11), 2042–2053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0286-0
56.
WuK.KimJ. H.NagataD. K.KimS. I. (2018). Perception of sibling relationships and birth order among Asian American and European American emerging adults. Journal of Family Issues, 39(13), 3641–3663. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X18783465
