Conflicts between siblings often lead to depression and anxiety, but parents can protect their children’s mental health by creating “House Rules,” experts say.
Researchers studied 145 pairs of siblings throughout the year, mainly from middle-class European-American families. The average age of the children was 15 and 12 years old. The teenagers were asked to evaluate various topics of a possible conflict and to note the frequency and intensity of quarrels.
Quarrels were divided into two categories: violation of personal space and conflicts over justice and equality. The study then examined the relationship between quarrels and teenage messages about repressed mood, anxiety, and self-esteem after one year.
"Our results show that conflicts over personal space and ownership of certain things are associated with more anxiety and low self-esteem a year later," said Nicole Campione-Barr, an assistant professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri.
Although parents often tend to intervene as arbiters, previous studies have shown that parental intervention in adolescent conflict can have bad consequences. However, parents should not allow the subordination of one of the children.
The best way to resolve quarrels and not be biased is to establish certain household rules, for example, “knock before entering a brother or sister’s room”.
A schedule of housework and the order in which you use your computer will help reduce conflicts over equity.
Strong, healthy family relationships are extremely important in later life. For example, there are things that people tell their brothers and sisters about, but never tell their parents and even friends.
