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Sibship Size and Academic Achievement in the PISA 2022 Survey
Qingke Guo1,2,3, Jing Liao1, Bo Yang4
1Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China.
Journal of Adolescence
|March 8, 2026
Summary
Having one sibling benefits academic achievement, especially in wealthier families. More than two siblings can dilute resources, negatively impacting academic success, a trend moderated by national wealth and individualism.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Sociology
- Economics
Background:
- Siblinghood's impact on psychosocial development is debated, with conflicting findings on academic success.
- Prior research suggests sibling competition/cooperation can boost socio-cognitive abilities, or dilute family resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the global role of siblinghood in academic achievement.
- To investigate moderating effects of family wealth, national economic conditions (GDP), and cultural individualism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 570,937 15-year-old adolescents across 77 countries (PISA 2022).
- Analyzed the relationship between sibship size and academic achievement.
- Employed multilevel modeling to assess moderating effects of family wealth, GDP, and individualism.
Main Results:
- Adolescents with one sibling had higher academic achievement than only-children or those with two+ siblings.
- Family wealth amplified the benefits of one sibling and mitigated the drawbacks of multiple siblings.
- GDP and individualism positively moderated the interplay between sibship size and family wealth.
Conclusions:
- A nonlinear relationship exists between sibship size and academic achievement.
- Two-child households may offer resource benefits, while >2 children can dilute resources.
- Family wealth, national wealth, and cultural individualism significantly moderate these effects.
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