Hello! For my third round of research I will be digging into the roles of different members within a family. One of the major factors that I wanted to learn more about was birth order. This is because birth order has shown to affect personality and behaviours; therefore, I wanted to see if it impacts individual well being and family dynamics. As a reminder, my overall inquiry question is “How do family dynamics affect the mental health and well-being of an individual within the family?”. To focus on one individual, I need to explore the different positions in a family and the responsibilities that come with it. This is where birth order takes place because it also defines how many children are in a family and their relationships with one another.
(3) Firstly, the science of birth order was brought by Alfred Alder, who was an Austrian medical doctor and psychotherapist. Alder’s birth order theory suggests that individual development and personality are impacted by birth order. The first born child has a strong sense of responsibility and likely grew up with parents that were more cautious and rule oriented due to being new parents. (2) Once this attention is diverted away from them due to a second born child, the first born tends to feel more deprived or envious. This could affect their well-being because once they get younger sibling(s), the parents will have higher expectations for them to set an example. (3) This is why first borns are seen as leaders and share the role of caregivers; which leads them to be more nurturing and responsible. With this information, the common traits of first borns are affected by birth order due to their position in the family and their relationships with the parents and younger siblings. While the expectations from parents may get overwhelming, it can cause a decline in mental health due to familial pressure and restriction on freedom.
(3) Secondly, the middle child may receive less attention from their parents as the parents may go back and forth between the youngest and oldest child. (1) Middle children may also find themselves playing the role of a mediator between their siblings as they resolve conflicts. (2) Since they may not find much attention within the family, they look for it outside the family instead. (3) Their roles typically include being peace makers and are seen as outgoing, competitive, and attention seekers. Furthermore, because the middle child tends to be overlooked, this may cause their well-being and mental health to be impacted. Their happiness is on the lower end and they may feel out of place in their family.
(3) Lastly, looking at the youngest sibling. The last borns are known as the “babies” of the family. They are often seen as spoiled and receive the most attention. (2) By the time it gets to the least child, parents are more lenient and busier, so their parenting towards the youngest is not as strict compared to their older siblings. Last born children are more free-spirited, charming, and outgoing; however, they can also be rebellious and immature. All these traits are dependent on their relationship with their siblings and parents.
In conclusion, (4) birth order can influence where their attention is located from. This attention and care they receive affects their mental health and well-being because it may stump or advance their development growing up. The different roles in a family is dependent on their positions which is reliant on their brith order. While there are many factors that can impact an individual’s well-being, their birth order plays a significant role in their position as
Citations:
(1) Fukuya, Y., Fujiwara, T., Isumi, A., Doi, S., & Ochi, M. (2021, April 14). Association of birth order with mental health problems, self-esteem, resilience, and happiness among children: Results from A-child study. Frontiers in psychiatry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8079750/
(2) The Significance Of Birth Order In Family Dynamics. (n.d.). FasterCapital. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://fastercapital.com/topics/the-significance-of-birth-order-in-family-dynamics.html
(3) How Does Birth Order Shape Your Personality? (n.d.). Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-does-birth-order-shape-your-personality-8431968#:~:text=Adler
(4) Shi, Q. (2020). Personal Birth Order Affects Subjective Well-Being—Empirical Analysis Based on CFPS Data. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 08(05), 377–391. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2020.85026
