Study claims that having a sister makes you happier and more optimistic
| Mar 8, 2018, 09:43 IST
Research from De Montfont University and Ulster University claims that those who have sisters tend to be happier individuals and more optimistic too. The study quizzed 571 young people aged 17 to 25 on their lives and found that those who grew up with sisters were more likely to be happy. Now, that is interesting, right?
It turns out sisters encourage their siblings to be more open and communicative about their feelings, which promotes good mental health, the researchers believe. Professor Tony Cassidy, who helped carry out the study, said, "Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. However, brothers seem to have the alternative effect. Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families. It could be that boys have a natural tendency not to talk about things. With boys together it is about a conspiracy of silence not to talk. Girls tend to break that down."
Cassidy said the findings were even more pronounced in families where parents had split up, adding, "I think these findings could be used by people offering support to families and children during distressing times. We may have to think carefully about the way we deal with families with lots of boys." Lead researcher, from Brigham Young University, Laura Padilla-Walker, who also conducted another study said, "Sibling affection from either gender was related to less delinquency and more pro-social behaviours like greater kindness and generosity, volunteering and helping others."
It turns out sisters encourage their siblings to be more open and communicative about their feelings, which promotes good mental health, the researchers believe. Professor Tony Cassidy, who helped carry out the study, said, "Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. However, brothers seem to have the alternative effect. Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families. It could be that boys have a natural tendency not to talk about things. With boys together it is about a conspiracy of silence not to talk. Girls tend to break that down."
Cassidy said the findings were even more pronounced in families where parents had split up, adding, "I think these findings could be used by people offering support to families and children during distressing times. We may have to think carefully about the way we deal with families with lots of boys." Lead researcher, from Brigham Young University, Laura Padilla-Walker, who also conducted another study said, "Sibling affection from either gender was related to less delinquency and more pro-social behaviours like greater kindness and generosity, volunteering and helping others."