According to New York Magazine, Sociologist Katherine Conger says she and her team of researchers asked more than 300 sibling pairs how they felt their parents treated them, if they sensed some sort of differential treatment, and whether they felt a blow or spike in their self-esteem from the perceived difference in treatment.
Apparently, firstborns tended to feel preferred, perhaps because for a while there they were only children. Once the younger sibs came along, their status as oldest child made them the first in the family to score in sports, lead the way academically and generally confound their parents as to what to do.
In comparison, younger children felt like they didn’t receive enough attention from their parents and that resulted in affecting their self-esteem.
“I was a little surprised. Our hypothesis was that older, earlier-born children would be more affected by perceptions of differential treatment due to their status as the older child in the family,” said Professor Conger.
Style Mommas, do you have a favorite child? Can you admit or confess? It’s tought , ain’t it?
