In ôPersonality and Social Skill Differences between Adults with and without Siblings,ö the author discusses the fact that adults that were only children have been difficult to classify in studies involving birth order; often they have been categorized as first- or last-bornùneither of which accurately fits themùor they have been omitted altogether (Riggio 521). Since families with only one child provide a control group for studying sibling-related family configuration effects on personality development, the author conducted a study comparing a group of students with siblings and another group without (Riggio 515). Interestingly, her study revealed no significant differences between students with siblings and those without, but it did reveal a substantial difference between males and females in terms of personality differences. In particular, she found that ôindividuals without siblings scored marginally significantly higher in the core trait of neuroticism, reflecting a marginally higher degree of emotional instability in this groupö (Riggio 520). The study also disproved a common myth that only children are not as socialized as children with siblings, and the author speculated that only children have no disadvantage in this area because they form close relationships with their parents (Riggio 520).
This research dispelled some long-held theories about only children and essentially found that they are as emotionally healthy as others with siblings except in the area of neurosis. It can be assumed that the neurosis is due to a lack of ôsounding boardsö that tend to keep most children with siblings in line when they digress from normalcy. Further research should be conducted in this area, as one study does not infallibly prove anything, and it would be hoped that subtopics such as the neurosis would be studied in further detail.
Riggion, Heidi R. ôPersonality and Social Skill Differences between Adults wi
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