The Dynamics of Sibling Relations in Adolescent Development:Understanding the Protective and Risk Factors

Adolescence is a major developmental stage characterised by marked growth and development. Family and other significant people play very crucial role during this developmental stage. Sibling relations are given due importance as children grow together and share the same environment. These relations whether positive or disturbing have impact on the adolescent's coping and development even it persists throughout their life. The present secondary research based article aims to understand the dynamics of sibling relations and its impact on adolescent's life. Evidence indicates that sibling relations depend on various factors such as family type, structure, size, economic conditions and gender of the siblings and other factors. A positive and congenial sibling relation helps moulding a child into a sound person whereas disturbing or unfriendly relations including rivalry, bullying and sexual or physical abuse has negative impact on development and can cause severe consequences ranging shame, aggression or fear to severe anxiety, depression and other mental and physical health hazards. Sibling relation often reflects in adolescent's personality, socialisation and interpersonal skills. Evidences also indicate that sibling support and healthy relation can boost up confidence and healthy mental development of adolescent even in adolescent with disability or other disorders. Parents and professionals often fail to understand the dynamics and importance of sibling relation and sometimes incidences of sexual abuse or other potential risks goes unnoticed. The paper recommends the need for family and community-based awareness and effective parenting programs. Also it calls for the attention from professional, parents and researchers to unearth the dynamics of sibling relations.