The reaction of firstborn children to a sibling before the birth: the role of the time at which they are told about the mother's pregnancy and their effortful control

Developmental trajectories of children’s sibling jealousy after the birth of a sibling: Strict parental control, parenting stress and parental depression as pre-birth predictors

This longitudinal research identified the developmental trajectories of sibling jealousy in firstborn children (M age = 49.9 months; 55% boys) among 107 Chinese families from 1 to 12 months after the birth of a younger sibling. Four sibling jealousy trajectories were identified: (a) low-increasing, (b) middle-stable, (c) high-stable, and (d) sharp-increasing. Trajectory group membership varied as a function of pre-birth parental factors including strict parental control (i.e., tiger parenting), parenting stress, and parental depression. These results highlight the benefit of examining the development of sibling jealousy over the transition to siblinghood and the importance to recognize pre-birth parental characteristics, especially paternal factors, as determinants when identifying children who may be at greater risk of adjustment difficulties following the birth of a younger sibling.

Firstborn children’s sex specific emotions and behaviors during mothers’ second pregnancy after implementation of the universal two-child policy in China

The present cross-sectional study aimed to identify sex-specific characteristics and other factors for firstborn children’s emotions and behaviors during their mothers’ second pregnancy after the implementation of the two-child policy in China. Firstborn children aged 1.5–5 years old and their pregnant mothers were enrolled from two hospitals from March to September 2019 in our city. Mothers completed a self-designed questionnaire and Child Behavior Checklist during their routine prenatal examinations. Linear regression was used to explore potential factors influencing firstborn children’s behaviors and emotions towards their mother’s second pregnancy. A total of 880 firstborn children were included. There was no significant difference in internalizing/externalizing problem scores and prevalence between male and female firstborn children during their mothers’ second pregnancy. Children’s easy temperament, good parental relationship, and father’s authoritative and indulgent parenting styles were potential positive factors for both male and female firstborn children. Harmonious family environment, children’s age, father's accompaniment, and being informed by parents of the arrival of a sibling were only related to firstborn girls experiencing fewer emotional and behavioral problems. Mother’s education and seeking for firstborn children’s opinion about the new sibling were only related to firstborn boys experiencing fewer emotional and behavioral problems. There was no sex differences in internalizing/externalizing problems in firstborn children during their mother’s second pregnancy. Children’s temperament, family environment and fathers’ parenting styles were consistent influencing factors for both firstborn girls’ and boys’ emotions and behaviors.

Association between Second-Time Mother's Prenatal Depression and Firstborn's Behaviour Problems: The Mediation Role of Parenting Daily Hassles

Background: With the relaxation of birth control policy in China in recent years, second-time mothers’ mental health has raised concerns. However, the impact of firstborn children’s behaviour problems on second-time mothers’ prenatal depression in families transitioning to siblinghood has received little attention from family psychologists. Aims: This research aims to investigate whether firstborn children’s behaviour problems affect second-time mothers’ prenatal depression and the mediation role of daily parenting hassles, i.e., minor stressors associated with parenting, on this relationship. Methods: Data about second-time mothers’ prenatal depression, parenting daily hassles, and firstborn children’s behaviour problems were collected from 105 families transitioning to two children families using mother-reported questionnaires. Regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: About half of the mothers in the sample have depressive symptoms. Firstborns’ behaviour problems did not have a direct effect on the mother’s prenatal depression, but the problems did have an indirect effect via parenting daily hassles. The mothers’ age was significantly associated with prenatal depression. Conclusions: The mediation role of parenting daily hassles in the association with firstborn’s behaviour problems and mother’s prenatal depression suggests the need for support that reduce the levels of daily parenting hassles from firstborn children.

Chinese parents' comparisons of siblings and adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems

Parents' comparisons of siblings have been understudied among sibling research, especially in Chinese societies where the government recently relaxed its one-child policy. This study, using a two-wave longitudinal design, explored how parents' comparisons of siblings were associated with adolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems. Study participants were 260 Chinese adolescents who had siblings and completed questionnaires that assessed their internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as their perceptions of parents' critical comparisons of siblings. Cross-lagged modeling analysis showed that parents' comparisons of siblings predicted more internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescents 6 months later. Moreover, adolescents' externalizing problems but not internalizing problems predicted more parents' comparisons of siblings over time. These findings underscore the importance of reciprocal relations between parents' comparisons of siblings and adolescents' externalizing problems and the implication of cultural context in understanding associations between parental practices and adolescents' adjustment.

Chinese Adolescents' Sibling Conflicts: Links With Maternal Involvement in Sibling Relationships and Coparenting

This study explored how maternal involvement in sibling relationships and coparenting behaviors were associated with adolescents' sibling conflicts. Adolescents (M_age  = 12.25 years; 47.8% boys) and their mothers from 542 families in China participated in this research. Mothers completed questionnaires that assessed their strategies of involvement in sibling relationships, as well as their perceptions of the quality of their coparenting behaviors. Furthermore, adolescents completed questionnaires that assessed sibling conflicts. Results revealed that the mother's positive guidance was negatively related and their authoritarian control was positively related to sibling conflict. A significant interaction was also found between positive maternal guidance in sibling relationships and undermining coparenting behaviors. These findings underscore the unique and interactive effects of mothers' direct involvement in sibling relationships and coparenting behaviors in adolescents' sibling conflicts.