Birth order: A phenomenon in search of an explanation

With few exceptions, previous studies of birth-order differences have been limited to contrasts between first- and later-born siblings and have been concerned almost exclusively with adults. In the present research birth-order differences were studied in a sample of young children at three different ordinal positions. The subjects were 24 males and 28 females, aged 44 months (±4 weeks). There were 14 first-born, 10 second-born, and 28 third- and later-born children. Subjects were observed in small nursery school groups for ten 2 1/2 hour sessions, and ratings were made on 14 social behaviors. Data were analyzed for sex and birth-order differences. Results show that boys were found to be more aggressive toward peers and adults and to spend more time in individual activity than girls. Girls sought more help from adults than boys and were more obedient to adult instruction. Boys engaged in more male role-playing activity, and girls engaged in more female role-playing activity. For birth order, the analysis indicated that second borns sought more adult help and more adult approval than first- or later-borns. They also spent more time in individual activity, were generally more talkative, and expressed more negative affect than other subjects. None of the Sex × Birth Order interactions were significant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).