Psychological dimensions of relationships with siblings as predictors of loneliness of young adults

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the variables differentiating the way how adult siblings experience loneliness and to indicate the sibling relationship dimensions having a predictive value for the multifacetedly defined phenomenon of loneliness. The research covered 153 persons at an average age of 25.5 years. Women accounted for 36.3% of the group. The participants had adult siblings, with whom they stayed in contact. The Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S) by E. DiTommaso, C. Brannen, L.A. Best (2004) was used to measure a sense of loneliness in the social and emotional dimensions. This scale was adapted to the Polish conditions by K. Adamczyk, E. DiTommaso (2014). The quality of sibling relationships in early adulthood was assessed by means of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ) by C. Stocker et al. (1997) in the adaptation of K. Walęcka-Matyja (2014a). It evaluates the perception of the examined persons, their behaviours and feelings toward their siblings as well as the perception of the siblings – their behaviours and feelings toward the examined. The obtained research results indicate that among the considered sociodemographic variables, only birth order was a factor differentiating the examined people in the area of experiencing loneliness in the family dimension. Some differences were noticed in relation to the quality of sibling relationships in the compared groups. Sisters received significantly higher average results than brothers in the dimensions of Warmth, Similarity, Intimacy, Acceptance and Knowledge whereas brothers received significantly higher average results in the dimensions of Conflict and Maternal Rivalry. There were also different constellations of the sibling relationship dimensions having a predictive value for some specific aspects of loneliness found in the groups of the examined sisters and brothers. In the group of sisters, they were: Opposition and Intimacy. In the group of brothers, the predictors of loneliness were: Paternal Rivalry, Admiration, Emotional Support, Intimacy, Knowledge.