Siblings Research Group
Current Projects
More Fun With Sisters and Brothers Program (MFWSB-P)
The More Fun with Sisters and Brothers Program is designed to improve young children’s sibling relationships by helping them to develop a set of social and emotional competencies that previous research has shown to be instrumental for improving sibling relationship quality.
Becoming A Sibling As A College Student From China
With the lifting of the One-Child policy, many young adults from China are becoming siblings for the very first time. We’re exploring what these sibling relationships, with such a large age gap, are like.
Twins’ and Siblings’ College Decisions
How does one’s relationship with siblings shape their future plans and college decisions? This study focuses on twins as they are often challenged to pursue their own identities yet stay connected.
Siblings and Mental Health
Siblings are our life’s fellow travelers. They know how to support and nurture us. They also know how to irritate us and exploit our vulnerabilities. How do these relationships influence our mental health?
Becoming a Sibling Follow-Up Study
In 1984, Dr. Kramer began to study families with preschool-aged children who were welcoming a second child. This follow-up study examines how these sibling relationships have developed over time.
What we do is important
Our relationships with siblings are likely the longest relationship we’ll have in our lives. They offer a lifetime of companionship, affection, and support— perhaps alongside competition, rivalry, and conflict. Yet little is known about how these relationships develop over time and, perhaps more importantly, how they contribute to our health and well-being. Our research takes a life course approach to understanding the development of these critical relationships, the factors that predict more positive relationships, as well as evidence-based and tested methods for helping families foster more prosocial relationships among their children. Our ultimate goal is to enable all to enjoy the benefits these relationships can offer.
