Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Older Siblings as Academic Socialization Agents for Younger Siblings: Developmental Pathways across Adolescence

  • Empirical Research
  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The role of older siblings in younger siblings’ academic socialization becomes increasingly salient during adolescence. This longitudinal study examines the developmental mechanisms through which older siblings shape younger siblings’ academic outcomes and whether older siblings’ peer affiliations predict younger siblings’ educational aspirations and attainment. Data consisted of responses from 395 target adolescents (Mage = 12.22 years, 48.9% female; 51.6% African American, 38.5% European American) and their older siblings (Mage = 14.65 years, 50.1% female) across nine years. The findings showed that older siblings’ affiliation with academically disengaged peers at 7th grade predicted younger siblings’ decreased affiliation with academically engaged peers and increased affiliation with disengaged peers at 9th grade. In addition, younger siblings’ affiliation with academically engaged peers predicted greater educational aspirations at 11th grade, which in turn were related to higher postsecondary educational attainment. The identification of developmental processes through which older siblings were associated with younger siblings’ academic success may aid in creating supportive social environments in which adolescents can thrive.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alfaro, E. C., & Umaña-Taylor, A. J. (2010). Latino adolescents’ academic motivation: the role of siblings. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 32, 549–570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J. P., Chango, J., Szwedo, D., Schad, M., & Marston, E. (2012). Predictors of susceptibility to peer influence regarding substance use in adolescence. Child Development, 83, 337–350.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Oxford: Prentice-Hall.

  • Baraldi, A. N., & Enders, C. K. (2010). An introduction to modern missing data analyses. Journal of School Psychology, 48, 5–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beijers, J., Bijleveld, C., van de Weijer, S., & Liefbroer, A. (2017). “All in the family?” The relationship between sibling offending and offending risk. Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology, 3, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchey, H. A., Shoulberg, E. K., Jodl, K. M., & Eccles, J. S. (2010). Longitudinal links between older sibling features and younger siblings’ academic adjustment during early adolescence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102, 197–211.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brechwald, W. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2011). Beyond homophily: a decade of advances in understanding peer influence processes. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21, 166–179.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G. H., Kim, S., Murry, V. M., & Brown, A. C. (2003). Longitudinal direct and indirect pathways linking older sibling competence to the development of younger sibling competence. Developmental Psychology, 39, 618–628.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1992). Ecological systems theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.), Six theories of child development: Revised formulations and current issues (pp. 187–249). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

  • Brown, B. B., Mounts, N., Lamborn, S. D., & Steinberg, L. (1993). Parenting practices and peer group affiliation in adolescence. Child Development, 64, 467–482.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buhs, E. S., Ladd, G. W., & Herald, S. L. (2006). Peer exclusion and victimization: processes that mediate the relation between peer group rejection and children’s classroom engagement and achievement? Journal of Educational Psychology, 98, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buist, K. L. (2010). Sibling relationship quality and adolescent delinquency: a latent growth curve approach. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 400–410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craine, J. L., Tanaka, T. A., Nishina, A., & Conger, K. J. (2009). Understanding adolescent delinquency: the role of older siblings’ delinquency and popularity with peers. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 55, 436.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, E., Plamondon, A., & Jenkins, J. M. (2018). An examination of the sibling training hypothesis for disruptive behavior in early childhood. Child Development, 89, 235–247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delay, D., Laursen, B., Kiuru, N., Salmela-Aro, K., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2013). Selecting and retaining friends on the basis of cigarette smoking similarity. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 23, 464–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodge, K. A., Dishion, T. J., & Lansford, J. E. (2006). Deviant peer influences in intervention and public policy for youth. Social Policy Report. Volume 20, Number 1. Ann Arbor, MI: Society for Research in Child Development.

  • Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. (2002). Motivational beliefs, values, and goals. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 109–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, J. S., Wigfield, A., Harold, R. D., & Blumenfeld, P. (1993). Age and gender differences in children’s self- and task perceptions during elementary school. Child Development, 64, 830–847.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ettekal, I., & Ladd, G. W. (2015). Developmental pathways from childhood aggression–disruptiveness, chronic peer rejection, and deviant friendships to early‐adolescent rule breaking. Child Development, 86, 614–631.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feinberg, M. E., & Hetherington, E. M. (2000). Sibling differentiation in adolescence: implications for behavioral genetic theory. Child Development, 71, 1512–1524.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuligni, A. J., Eccles, J. S., Barber, B. L., & Clements, P. (2001). Early adolescent peer orientation and adjustment during high school. Developmental Psychology, 37, 28–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gifford-Smith, M., Dodge, K. A., Dishion, T. J., & McCord, J. (2005). Peer influence in children and adolescents: crossing the bridge from developmental to intervention science. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33, 255–265.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Greer, K. B., Campione-Barr, N., Debrown, B., & Maupin, C. (2014). Do differences make the heart grow fonder? Associations between differential peer experiences on adolescent sibling conflict and relationship quality. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 175, 16–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hallberlin, J. (2015). Surviving the divorce: the power of the sibling relationship. Theses, Dissertations, and Projects. 646, Smith College. https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/646.

  • Hamm, J. V., Farmer, T. W., Lambert, K., & Gravelle, M. (2014). Enhancing peer cultures of academic effort and achievement in early adolescence: promotive effects of the SEALS intervention. Developmental Psychology, 50, 216–228.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haynie, D., & McHugh, S. (2003). Sibling deviance: in the shadows of mutual and unique friendship effects? Criminology, 41, 355–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, N. E., & Wang, M. T. (2015). From middle school to college: developing aspirations, promoting engagement, and indirect pathways from parenting to post high school enrollment. Developmental Psychology, 51, 224–235.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6, 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. C., & McHale, S. M. (2015). What makes siblings different? The development of sibling differences in academic achievement and interest. Journal of Family Psychology, 29, 469–478.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Keijsers, L., Branje, S., Hawk, S. T., Schwartz, S. J., Frijns, T., & Koot, H. M., et al. (2012). Forbidden friends as forbidden fruit: parental supervision of friendships, contact with deviant peers, and adolescent delinquency. Child Development, 83, 651–666.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kornreich, J. L., Hearn, K. D., Rodriguez, G., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2003). Sibling influence, gender roles, and the sexual socialization of urban early adolescent girls. Journal of Sex Research, 40, 101–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiuru, N., Burk, W. J., Laursen, B., Salmela-Aro, K., & Nurmi, J. E. (2010). Pressure to drink but not to smoke: disentangling selection and socialization in adolescent peer networks and peer groups. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 801–812.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kretschmer, T., & Pike, A. (2010). Links between nonshared friendship experiences and adolescent siblings’ differences in aspirations. Journal of Adolescence, 33, 101–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lansford, J. E., Dodge, K. A., Fontaine, R. G., Bates, J. E., & Pettit, G. S. (2014). Peer rejection, affiliation with deviant peers, delinquency, and risky sexual behavior. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 1742–1751.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Li, M., Chen, J., Li, X., & Deater-Deckard, K. (2015). Moderation of harsh parenting on genetic and environmental contributions to child and adolescent deviant peer affiliation: a longitudinal twin study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 1396–1412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y., Lynch, A. D., Kalvin, C., Liu, J., & Lerner, R. M. (2011). Peer relationships as a context for the development of school engagement during early adolescence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 35, 329–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, S., & Segal, N. L. (2013). Peer network overlap in twin, sibling, and friend dyads. Child Development, 84, 500–511.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melby, J. N., Conger, R. D., Fang, S. A., Wickrama, K. A. S., & Conger, K. J. (2008). Adolescent family experiences and educational attainment during early adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 44, 1519–1536.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L., & Muthén, B. (2012). Mplus user’s guide (7th edn). Los Angeles: Muthén, L., & Muthén, B.

  • Noller, P. (2005). Sibling relationships in adolescence: learning and growing together. Personal Relationships, 12, 1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rende, R., Slomkowski, C., Lloyd-Richardson, E., & Niaura, R. (2005). Sibling effects on substance use in adolescence: social contagion and genetic relatedness. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 611.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rowan, Z. R. (2016). Social risk factors of Black and White adolescents’ substance use: the differential role of siblings and best friends. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45, 1482–1496.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, G., Darlington, Y., Noller, P., & Feeney, J. (2004). Children’s perceptions of their sibling relationships during parental separation and divorce. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 41, 69–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin, H., & Ryan, A. M. (2014). Friendship networks and achievement goals: an examination of selection and influence processes and variations by gender. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 1453–1464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slomkowski, C., Rende, R., Conger, K. J., Simons, R. L., & Conger, R. D. (2001). Sisters, brothers, and delinquency: evaluating social influence during early and middle adolescence. Child Development, 72, 271–283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, F., Rasbash, J., & Jenkins, J. (2013). A multilevel simultaneous equations model for within-cluster dynamic effects, with an application to reciprocal parent–child and sibling effects. Psychological Methods, 18, 87–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, L. N. (2015). Sibling popularity: a moderator of sibling influence for adolescent substance use. Addiction Research & Theory, 23, 481–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., Chow, A., Degol, J. L., & Eccles, J. S. (2017a). Does everyone’s motivational beliefs about physical science decline in secondary school?: heterogeneity of adolescents’ achievement motivation trajectories in physics and chemistry. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46, 1821–1838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., & Degol, J. L. (2014). Staying engaged: knowledge and research needs in student engagement. Child Development Perspectives, 8, 137–143.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., & Degol, J. L. (2016). School climate: a review of the definition, measurement, and impact on student outcomes. Educational Psychology Review, 28, 315–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., & Eccles, J. S. (2012). Social support matters: longitudinal effects of social support on three dimensions of school engagement from middle to high school. Child Development, 83, 877–895.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., Fredricks, J. A., Ye, F., Hofkens, T. L., & Schall, J. (2017b). Conceptualization and assessment of adolescents’ engagement and disengagement in school. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 58, 148–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., Kiuru, N., Degol, J. L., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2018). Friends, academic achievement, and school engagement during adolescence: a social network approach to peer influence and selection effects. Learning and Instruction, 58, 148–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M. T., Willett, J. B., & Eccles, J. S. (2011). The assessment of school engagement: examining dimensionality and measurement invariance across gender and race/ethnicity. Journal of School Psychology, 49, 465–480.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman, S. D., Bernard, J. M. B., & McHale, S. M. (2010). The nature and correlates of sibling influence in two-parent African American families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 267–281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman, S. D., & Christiansen, A. (2008). Processes of sibling influence in adolescence: individual and family correlates. Family Relations, 57, 24–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman, S. D., Jensen, A. C., & Maggs, J. L. (2014). Similarities and differences in adolescent siblings’ alcohol-related attitudes, use, and delinquency: evidence for convergent and divergent influence processes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 687–697.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman, S. D., McHale, S. M., & Crouter, A. C. (2007a). Competing processes of sibling influence: observational learning and sibling deidentification. Social Development, 16, 642–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whiteman, S. D., McHale, S. M., & Crouter, A. C. (2007b). Explaining sibling similarities: perceptions of sibling influences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 963–972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigfield, A., Eccles, J. S., Simpkins, S., Roeser, R. W., & Schiefele, U. (2015). Development of achievement motivation and engagement. In R. M. Lerner & M. E. Lamb (Vol. Ed.), Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science: Vol. 3. Socioemotional Processes (7th edn). (pp. 657–700). Hoboken: Wiley. (Series Eds.).

Download references

Authors’ Contributions

M.-T.W. conceived of the study (i.e., study questions, study design, result interpretation), participated in the literature review, and drafted the introduction, literature review, and discussion sections; J.L.D. drafted the literature review and part of the discussion and provided feedback on the full draft; J.L.A. performed the data analysis, participated in the interpretation of the data, and drafted the method and result sections. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Data Sharing and Declaration

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Ming-Te Wang & Jamie L. Amemiya

  2. Penn State Altoona, Altoona, PA, USA

    Jessica L. Degol

Authors
  1. Ming-Te Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jessica L. Degol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jamie L. Amemiya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming-Te Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Ethical Approval

The study protocol was approved by the University of Helsinki Ethical Review Board in the Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Informed Consent

Participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were collected from both the adolescents and their parents.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, MT., Degol, J.L. & Amemiya, J.L. Older Siblings as Academic Socialization Agents for Younger Siblings: Developmental Pathways across Adolescence. J Youth Adolescence 48, 1218–1233 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01005-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01005-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation