We DO copy our brothers and sisters: Siblings of people who get married, divorced or have children are more likely to do the same, study shows
- Scientists assessed 32 years of data on familial relationships from Germany
- Found decision-making for key life events was influenced by sibling experiences
- People are more likely to get married or have kids if they see their sibling do it
- However, they are also less likely to get married if they see their brother or sister get divorced
Sibling relationships are unique in their influence over a person’s life and extend far beyond childhood, a study reveals.
Few dispute the significance of a brother or sister during a person’s formative years, but siblings also influence life decisions as an adult, such as marriage and children.
A study from researchers at the University of Cologne spanning 32 years found people are more likely to get married, divorced or become a parent if they see a sibling do it first.
Few dispute the significance of a brother or sister during a person’s formative years, but a study has found they also influence decisions on the biggest life events, such as marriage and children (stock)
Researchers analysed data from 4,521 individuals from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), which collected information on marital and family life between 1984 and 2016.
The likelihood of getting married increases after watching a brother or sister tie the knot, the study shows.
‘An individual’s propensity to marry increases after a sibling’s marriage and remain significant in the long-term,’ the researcher write in the study.
A study from researchers at the University of Cologne spanning 32 years found people become more likely to get married, divorced or become a parent if they see their sibling do it first (Stock)
‘This finding is in line with the idea that a sibling’s entry into marriage may exert pressure, especially through parents, to form a family.’
A similar surge in probability also occurs if a sibling has a child but only for a short period of time.
‘Similar to previous research, we find this effect to be short-lived, peaking in the first three years and declining afterward,’ the scientists write.
Unsurprising, the phenomenon was also seen in reverse and have a negative effect.
For example, if a person watches their sibling get divorced, it makes them less likely to get married themselves.
The study’s lead author, Zafer Buyukkececi, said: ‘Taken together, our results support the idea that the process of family formation is interdependent among siblings.’
Full findings are published in the journal Advances in Life Course Research.