Marieke Voorpostel

Parental Divorce and Sibling Relationships: A Research Note

This study examines long-term effects of parental divorce on sibling relationships in adulthood and the role of predivorce parental conflict. It used large-scale retrospective data from the Netherlands that contain reports from both siblings of the sibling dyad. Results show limited effects of parental divorce on sibling contact and relationship quality in adulthood but strong effects on sibling conflict. The greater conflict among siblings from divorced families is explained by the greater parental conflict in these families. Parental conflict is a far more important predictor than parental divorce per se. Siblings from high-conflict families have less contact, lower relationship quality, and more conflict than do siblings from low-conflict families. Finally, when it comes to sibling relationship quality, the effect of parental divorce depends on the amount of parental conflict. Parental divorce has little effect on the quality of the relationship in low-conflict families, but it improves the relationship in high-conflict families.

Similar or Different? The Importance of Similarities and Differences for Support Between Siblings

Using a large-scale Dutch national sample (N = 7,126), the authors examine the importance of similarities and differences in the sibling dyad for the provision of support. Similarities are assumed to enhance attraction and empathy; differences are assumed to be related to different possibilities for exchange. For helping with housework, helping with odd jobs, giving advice, and showing interest, logistic regression models are estimated and similarities and differences in gender, age, educational level, partner status, and whether the siblings have children are examined. The authors find only limited corroboration for the relevance of similarities, both siblings being sisters, or both being childless. Validation for the importance of differences is found, relating to different roles. For instance, older siblings are more supportive toward their younger siblings than the other way around, and the childless support their parenting siblings, especially in young adulthood.

For better or worse: Negative life events and sibling relationships

Using Dutch data (N = 6630), this article examines how sibling relationships (including full biological, half- and adopted siblings) differed for persons who experienced a negative life event (divorce, physical illness, psychological problems, addiction, problems with the law, victimization of abuse or financial problems) and those who did not. Results showed that people who experienced serious negative life events in the past often had less active, less supportive and more strained sibling ties. The group that experienced a physical illness formed an exception, showing more supportive and active sibling ties, but also higher levels of conflict. Results suggest inequality between persons who have experienced negative life events and those who have not in terms of access to positive and supportive sibling relationships.

Not Accepted by the Family: “Being Difficult” or “Being Different”?:

Using data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (NKPS) and combining a quantitative approach and a qualitative approach (N = 8,148 and n = 43, respectively), this study investigates the mechanisms associated with a lack of acceptance by one’s family. From the total NKPS sample, 12.1% did not feel (entirely) accepted by their family. The authors hypothesized that people may not feel accepted by their family when they are “difficult,” for example, by exhibiting personal problems; another reason might be that they are “different,” for instance, because they have made nontraditional life course transitions or differ from their parents in educational level or religious preference. Both quantitative and qualitative results confirm the first hypothesis rather than the second. Qualitative results revealed a gender difference in the mechanisms associated with a lack of acceptance by one’s family as well as differences in the resilience of those who had had a difficult family background.

Exploring the Cohabitation Gap in Relationship Dissolution and Health and Wellbeing: A Longitudinal Analysis of Transitions from Cohabitation and Marriage in Switzerland and Australia

With the increase of unmarried cohabitation a growing body of research examines health differences between married and cohabiting people, but few studies investigate what happens when relationships end. While cohabitation offers some similar health advantages to marriage, typically cohabitants have been together less time, are less likely to have children or to have shared finances. Therefore separating from cohabitation may be less difficult than marriage. We compare Switzerland and Australia because the Swiss are more conservative in relationship formation and dissolution, where Swiss cohabitations are more serious and marriages more stable than in Australia. There are also important policy differences, where long-term cohabitants have the same legal entitlements as married couples in Australia, but not in Switzerland.

Niet geaccepteerd door de familie: Een kwestie van 'moeilijk zijn' of 'anders zijn'?

Using data from the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study (NKPS) and combining a quantitative and a qualitative approach (N = 7.151 and n = 43, respectively), this study investigates the mechanisms underlying a lack of acceptance by one’s family. From the total NKPS-sample 12,1 per cent did not feel (entirely) accepted by their family. Theoretical assumptions were that people may not feel accepted by their family because they are ‘difficult’, e.g. by exhibiting personal problems; another reason might be that they are ‘different’, for instance because they have made nontraditional life course transitions or differ from their parents in educational level or religious preference. Both quantitative and qualitative results confirm the first assumption rather than the second. Qualitative results revealed a gender difference in the mechanisms involved in a lack of acceptance by one’s family.