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Only Children Happier Than Those With Siblings
Filed under: In The News
When you're an only child, there's no older brother to beat you up. Credit: Getty Images
Whoever said that one is the loneliest number must have had a lot of brothers and sisters, because new research shows only children are happier than those who have siblings.According to British newspaper The Telegraph, a study conducted by the Institute for Social & Economic Research reveals that happiness declines with the addition of each new sibling.
The survey, which collected information from more than 2,500 youngsters in the United Kingdom, also showed that more than half the children questioned have been bullied by their brother or sister.
More than half of kids surveyed report being punched, kicked or hit, and also said that they suffered name-calling and theft at the hands of their siblings. Gundi Knies, a researcher on the project, tells the newspaper that discontent also stems from sharing a bedroom with other members of the brood, as well as having to compete for Mom and Dad's attention.
The survey appears to show that sibling rivalry can have a serious effect on a child's emotional health.
"In an average home, the more children, the less privacy for each child. Some love sharing a bedroom with a sibling but they would rather choose to do it than have to do it," child psychologist Dr. Ruth Koppard tells the Telegraph.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-15-2010 @ 5:55PM
Alicia said...As an only child, I agree with this study, but since I've never had siblings, I can't judge. I'm also still not sure how one quantifies happiness.
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11-15-2010 @ 9:04PM
Heidi said...Wow! And in the "related articles" section between the article and this comment section is an article called "Big or Little, Sisters Help Ward off Depression." There are studies for everything and they all interpret the data to mean what they want. What kind of study collects data form only 2,500 "youngsters"? Doesn't sound too scientific to me. As an only child, I would have loved to have had siblings. And as the parent of two daughters, two years apart, I understand that sometimes it sucks having a sibling, but overall, I don't think they'd want to change it.
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11-16-2010 @ 3:26AM
Kat said...Well of course they are happier, they get more of their parents attention, devotion and love, and they never have to share toys or are made to feel like one sibling is more important than them. I have two younger brothers and almost all my friends growing up were only children...I was always happier at my friends houses for a reason. They were SPOILED.
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