You’re stuck by each other’s sides for life. Whether you like it or not. So why not make the best of it? Siblings are the best gifts. They are there for you when you need them, whether it’s for advice on friendships, relationships or as simple as clothing advice. They’ll always be there.
One thing siblings can set you up for is success. You can count on an honest and truthful answer from them when asking questions. The American Psychological Association states, “The relationships that we have with our siblings are often the longest lasting relationships of our lives. Brothers and sisters are our first childhood playmates— and our first rivals. In adulthood, siblings can be a source of friendship and emotional support. They’re the only other people in the world who remember and understand exactly what it was like to grow up within our family.”
Most likely your siblings are going to be another version of you but in different ways. Siblings usually grow up in the same home, being raised by a mutual parent or guardian. The American Psychological Association talks about some studies that have proven, “Well into adulthood, siblings keep influencing one another’s mental health and well-being. Warm sibling relationships—those with more affection and intimacy and less conflict—are a source of material and emotional support, with the power to protect against loneliness and depression.” On top of this, the Greater Good Science Center reports, “Given your shared history, siblings understand you like no one else really can. Family routines, family rituals, memories of your family, the ways things work in your family, the little jokes and private understandings— you just don’t have that with other people, not even a long-term spouse.” This proves that people don’t realize how deep their connection is with someone who knows their background and relates to them on different levels that others can’t. Additionally, it’s been found that, “Sibling warmth and support in childhood has been linked to a number of positive outcomes, including peer acceptance and social competence, academic engagement and educational attainment and intimate relationships in adolescence and young adulthood, as McHale and colleagues described in a review of sibling dynamics in childhood. Warm sibling relationships can also help buffer against the negative effects of stressful life events such as bullying or parental hostility.” The American Psychological Association helps us truly realize how much we can gain from our siblings. If anyone is going to be in your back corner, it’s going to be them.
A major benefit of having one or more siblings is they can improve your mental health on different levels. The National Library of Medicine states, “Family relationships provide resources that can help an individual cope with stress, engage in healthier behaviors and enhance self-esteem, leading to higher well-being. The available evidence suggests that high-quality relationships characterized by closeness with siblings are related to higher levels of well-being.” Even if you don’t realize it now, it’s nice having a designated person to rant, vent or just talk about what’s happening in your life, no matter if it’s good or bad. Highland Springs believes, “When we spend time with family—especially face-to-face communication, as opposed to digital—it significantly reduces the occurrence of depression, anxiety and other mental illness. Being physically present with loved ones creates a strong emotional support to buoy you up through life’s challenges.” Sibling relationships are there for us when we need a pick-up emotionally or physically.
Some people even put in their two cents about whether they think having a sibling is a good thing and if they think there are benefits. Based on eight students that were surveyed at Hudson, seven of them had siblings, with different combinations in number of siblings and if they’re younger or older. The only child shared that they experience a lot of loneliness especially when their parents aren’t home. The seven students who said they have siblings did say there is sometimes conflict, but that’s normal and expected to occur. But they still all agreed that they don’t know what they’d do without their siblings.
Some people may not realize it, but siblings are the best gift anyone could receive. Everyone is bound to have rocky times with their siblings, but at the end of the day, they will always be there for you.
