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Birth order and its relationship to depression, anxiety, and self-concept test scores in children
L Gates1, M R Lineberger, J Crockett
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, 39406-5025.
Insights
First-born children experience lower depression and anxiety, and higher self-esteem compared to their siblings. Girls, however, reported higher trait anxiety than boys in this study.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Birth Order Studies
Background:
- Birth order is a significant factor influencing child development.
- Understanding psychological differences across sibling positions is crucial for developmental research.
- Previous studies suggest varying impacts of birth order on personality and mental health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between birth order and psychological outcomes in children.
- To examine differences in depression, trait anxiety, and self-esteem based on sibling position.
- To explore gender differences in trait anxiety among children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), and Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale.
- Administered psychological assessments to 404 children aged 7 to 12 years.
- Analyzed data to compare psychological scores across different birth orders and genders.
Main Results:
- First-born children reported significantly lower depression scores than later-born children.
- First-borns exhibited significantly lower trait anxiety compared to third-born children.
- First-born children demonstrated significantly higher self-esteem than second-born and youngest children.
- Girls scored significantly higher on trait anxiety than boys.
Conclusions:
- Birth order is associated with distinct psychological profiles in children, with first-borns showing advantages in mental well-being.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering sibling position in understanding child mental health.
- Gender differences in anxiety levels warrant further investigation in developmental contexts.
Abstract:
Children (N = 404), 7 to 12 years old, were given the Children's Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale. First-born children scored significantly lower on depression than second-, third-, fourth-born, and youngest children. First borns showed significantly less trait anxiety than third-born children. First-born children also showed significantly higher levels of self-esteem than second-born and youngest children. Girls in this study showed significantly more trait anxiety than boys.