Sibling relationship characteristics in married young adults: A cross-cultural study of Turkey,Israel,South Korea,and the United States

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine whether sibling constellations and relationship characteristics are associated with sibling warmth and conflict among married adults, aged 25–40 years, and had at least one sibling in four distinct cultures. Our samples consisted of 318 from Türkiye, 322 from Israel, 423 from South Korea, and 352 from the US. Warmth was significantly higher in Türkiye than the other countries, and conflict was significantly higher in the US than in the other samples. Sibling size played an important role in sibling relationships in Türkiye, Israel, and Korea. Frequency of contact between participant and focal sibling predicted warmth in all countries. Marital status of the focal sibling was also associated with warmth in the sibling relationship in Korea and the US. This study reveals cross-cultural similarities and differences in warmth and conflict between married siblings as a function of sibling constellation and relationship characteristics.

Keywords

Family constellation sibling conflict sibling relationships sibling warmth young adulthood

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