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Siblings' motives for talking to each other
Kelly A Rocca1, Matthew M Martin, Katie Neary Dunleavy
1St. John's University, USA. roccak@stjohns.edu
The Journal of Psychology
|March 24, 2010
Summary
Sibling communication motives are explored, revealing how individuals voluntarily maintain lifelong bonds. Findings show differences based on gender, family structure, sibling number, and birth order.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Family Studies
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Sibling relationships are often involuntary but maintained throughout life.
- Understanding communication motives is key to how siblings voluntarily sustain connections.
- Previous research identified six primary communication motives: affection, control, escape, inclusion, pleasure, and relaxation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interpersonal communication motives within sibling relationships.
- To examine how siblings voluntarily maintain their relationships over time.
- To identify factors influencing communication motives in sibling dyads.
Main Methods:
- Survey methodology involving 323 participants.
- Participants reported on their communication motives with one sibling.
- Analysis focused on differences across demographic variables.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in communication motives were found between male and female participants.
- Family structure (intact vs. nonintact) influenced communication motives.
- The number of siblings and birth order also affected communication motives.
Conclusions:
- Communication motives play a crucial role in the voluntary maintenance of sibling relationships.
- Demographic factors such as gender, family structure, and sibling constellation impact these motives.
- Further research is needed to explore the implications and limitations of these findings.
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