The Impact of Sibling Presence on Individual Social Competence

Abstract

This study examines how the presence of siblings affects adolescents' social competency, which is a crucial aspect of personal socialization. Motivation, knowledge, and social skills are all components of social competency, which is necessary for productive interpersonal relationships. The study examines how peer and family influences impact social development, with a particular emphasis on sibling dynamics, drawing on the body of previous work. Sixty-three Beijing high school students were given structured questionnaires as part of a quantitative approach. Participants were split into two groups: those with siblings (n = 29) and those without children (n = 34). Only children scored considerably higher in social motivation (p=0.016) and expressive skills (p=0.001), according to results from independent sample t-tests. This suggests that children are more likely to initiate social encounters and express their thoughts. The dimensions of social knowledge showed no discernible variations. Subsequent investigation revealed that people with one sibling had the lowest overall social competency scores, but people with two or more siblings recovered moderately. These results imply that while siblings might provide chances for socialization, they might also lessen the necessity for outside social interaction. The study emphasizes the complexity of family dynamics in forming social abilities and advances our understanding of the complex function that sibling presence plays in adolescent social development.