Madhur Katoch

Sibling Ties During Middle Adulthood Years: Perception of Sibling Relationship During Middle Adulthood Years Madhur Katoch

The study was conducted to assess the perception of 120 middle-aged adults regarding their sibling relationship. Adult Sibling Relationship Scale (ASRS) was developed and used to assess the perception of middle-aged males and females. Case studies were conducted for qualitative analysis. Males characterized their relationship as Apathetic with their brothers, and congenial with their sisters. Only Sister-Sister dyad was found to have Intimate type of sibling relationship and only Sister-Brother dyad had Hostile type of sibling relationship. Phone contact was found to be higher in females as compared to males and family events acts as a major obligation for siblings to remain in contact. As compared to males higher percentage of females had a feeling of comfort and security from sibling. Gender differences in females showed more emotionally close relationship with their sisters as compared to brothers. Regarding qualitative analyses variations were in the type of sibling relationships that were influenced by various life transitional factors like choice of spouse, child birth, continuation of childhood rivalry, parental favoritism, caring for aging parents etc.