Family transitions following the birth of a sibling: an empirical review of changes in the firstborn's adjustment

Temporal Fluctuations of Suicide Mortality in Japan from 2009 to 2023 Using Government Databases

In Japan, suicide mortalities consistently decreased before the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2009 to 2019) but, conversely, increased after the pandemic outbreak from 2020 to 2022. To provide up-to-date suicide statistics in Japan, this study determined the temporal fluctuations of standardized suicide mortalities (SMRs), disaggregated by sex and age, by joinpoint regression analysis using the government suicide database, named the "Basic Data on Suicide in Region". From January 2009 to December 2023, three temporal fluctuation patterns of SMRs pertaining to working age and older adults were detected, such as attenuations of decreasing trends before the COVID-19 pandemic (from around the mid-2010s), a sharply increasing trend that coincided with the pandemic outbreak, and gradually decreased during the pandemic, but no changes at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the SMRs of working-age females sharply increased concurrently with the pandemic outbreak, whereas those of males did not change. However, before the pandemic, decreasing trends of the SMRs of working-age males diminished in the mid-2010s, but those of females consistently decreased. The SMRs of working-age males indicated non-significant but sharply increasing trends in early 2022, a trend that was not observed for females. In contrast to working-age adults, the SMRs of adolescents already began to increase in the mid-2010s and also indicated consistently increasing trends between the periods during and after the pandemic. These results suggest, contrary to our expectations, that the impacts of both the outbreak and end of the COVID-19 pandemic were limited regarding the increase in SMRs from 2020. Therefore, when revising suicide prevention programs in the post-COVID-19 era, it should be noted that focusing on pandemic-associated factors alone is not sufficient.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on new parents enrolled in the 'BABY1000' birth cohort study in Sydney, Australia: A mixed-methods study

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic was, and continues to be, uniquely experienced by women in the perinatal period and their families. Whilst long-term impacts of the pandemic are unknown, exposures in pregnancy and early life have impacts across the life-course and future generations. The objective of this manuscript was to explore how the pregnancy, postpartum and parenting experiences of a subset of participants from the 'BABY1000' cohort in Sydney, Australia, were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore associations between these experiences and state anxiety.

METHODS

Mixed methods were used. Participants were requested to complete an online survey including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory short form (STAI-6), followed by an invitation to participate in focus group discussions (FGDs).

RESULTS

From September to November 2021, 88 parents completed the survey (mean age 33.5 years, 60% born in Australia, 58% primiparous). Twenty-two parents participated in FGDs. Six themes were identified regarding the experience of parents: (1) Maternal support, (2) Family relationships, (3) Stress and mental health, (4) Healthcare, (5) Family lifestyle and routine, and (6) Long-term impacts. The mean STAI-6 score was 40 (SD 12.3), representing high anxiety. High anxiety was significantly associated with concern regarding COVID-19 and feeling overburdened and lonely.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health orders significantly impacted participants' pregnancy, postpartum and parenting experiences. Whilst these experiences included some unexpected positives, for many, these were outweighed by negative impacts on mental health, social support, health behaviours, and family relationships.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Ongoing longitudinal research is imperative to identify potential long-term effects of the pandemic across the life-course, better support families in the short and long-term, and plan for public health crises in the future.

An integrated model: marital effect on adolescent behavioral problems through siblings

Introduction

Few studies have simultaneously focused on the effects of marital conflict and marital intimacy on adolescent development, and little is known about the role of sibling relationships. Thus, this study examined the association between marital relationships and adolescent behavioral problems, including depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior. At the same time, we explored the mediating role of sibling hostility and sibling affection and the moderating effect of birth order in multichild families in China.

Methods

Participants included 842 adolescents (Mage = 12.60, 46.2% boys) from Henan Province. Marital relationship, sibling relationship, birth order, depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. SEM was then used to examine the role of sibling relationships and birth order in the association between marital relationship and adolescent behavioral problems.

Results

Our results showed that marital intimacy was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior, while marital conflict was positively correlated with them. Marital intimacy was associated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior through both sibling hostility and sibling affection. Marital conflict was indirectly associated with depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior through sibling hostility. In addition, the first-born adolescents were more sensitive to marital intimacy.

Discussion

Given that the occurrence of adolescent behavioral problems is more common in contemporary society, our findings suggest that establishing a more intimate and warmer family atmosphere and promoting positive interactions between siblings may help control adolescent mental health problems.

Emotional and Behavioral Changes in Preschool Firstborn Children During Transition to Siblinghood: A Mixed Methods Study

Purpose

To help firstborn children in families expecting a second child navigate the role transition more smoothly, we investigated the emotional and behavioral changes of firstborn children during the transition to siblinghood (TTS) and the factors that contribute to these changes.

Patients and Methods

From March to December 2019, a total of 97 firstborn children (Mage=3.00± 0.97, and female = 51) were included in the study through a questionnaire survey of their mothers, and two follow-up visits were conducted in Chongqing, China. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 mothers.

Results

Both quantitative and qualitative results suggest that emotional and behavioral problems of firstborn children tend to increase during TTS, particularly in issues such as anxiety/depression, somatic complaints, withdrawal, sleep problems, attention problems, and aggressive behavior, as well as internalization problems, externalization problems and total problems in the quantitative study (P<0.05). A poor father-child relationship may increase emotional and behavioral problems in firstborn children (P=0.05). Further qualitative analysis found that younger age and outgoing personality of the firstborn child may improve the emotional and behavioral problems.

Conclusion

The firstborn children did have more emotional and behavioral problems during TTS. But these problems can be regulated by family factors and their own characteristics.

Developmental trajectories of children’s sibling jealousy after the birth of a sibling: Strict parental control, parenting stress and parental depression as pre-birth predictors

This longitudinal research identified the developmental trajectories of sibling jealousy in firstborn children (M age = 49.9 months; 55% boys) among 107 Chinese families from 1 to 12 months after the birth of a younger sibling. Four sibling jealousy trajectories were identified: (a) low-increasing, (b) middle-stable, (c) high-stable, and (d) sharp-increasing. Trajectory group membership varied as a function of pre-birth parental factors including strict parental control (i.e., tiger parenting), parenting stress, and parental depression. These results highlight the benefit of examining the development of sibling jealousy over the transition to siblinghood and the importance to recognize pre-birth parental characteristics, especially paternal factors, as determinants when identifying children who may be at greater risk of adjustment difficulties following the birth of a younger sibling.

Paternal and maternal rejection and Chinese children's internalizing and externalizing problems across the transition to siblinghood: A developmental cascade model of family influence

This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal associations between paternal and maternal rejection and firstborn children's (M_age  = 49.9 months; 55% boys) behavior problems across the transition to siblinghood in a sample of 120 families recruited from 2016 to 2018 from Shanghai, China. Parental rejection and behavior problems were assessed before (prenatal) and 1, 6, and 12 months after the birth of a baby sibling. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models revealed positive relations between internalizing problems and both maternal and paternal rejection, and between externalizing problems and paternal rejection at the between-person level (rs = .32-.37), but only cross-lagged effects from children's internalizing and externalizing problems to maternal rejection at the within-person level (βs = .30-.54).

Association between Parent-Child Relationship and Second-Time Mother's Prenatal Depressive Symptoms: The Mediation Role of Parenting Burnout

PURPOSE

The aim of this research was to study the association between the mother-firstborn relationship and second-time mothers' prenatal depressive symptoms before the birth of a second child and the mediation role of parenting burnout on this relationship.

METHODS

Empirical study was adopted in this research. Using a convenient sampling method, we recruited 110 second-time mothers who were in their third trimester of pregnancy. Child-parent relationship questionnaire, parenting burnout scale, and Beck Depression Instrument were used to measure the relationship between firstborn and second-time mothers, mothers' parenting burnout, and prenatal depressive symptoms, respectively. Regression analysis was conducted to test the relationship between variables, and the mediation effect was tested using PROCESS.

RESULTS

Regression results showed that the parent-child relationship is negatively associated with second-time mothers' prenatal depressive symptoms. The parent-child relationship is negatively associated with parenting burnout which is positively related to prenatal depressive symptoms. When considering the mediation variable of parenting burnout, the direct effect is not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Parent-child relationship has a significant impact on second-time mothers' prenatal depressive symptoms, and this relationship is mediated by parenting burnout.

Firstborn children’s sex specific emotions and behaviors during mothers’ second pregnancy after implementation of the universal two-child policy in China

The present cross-sectional study aimed to identify sex-specific characteristics and other factors for firstborn children’s emotions and behaviors during their mothers’ second pregnancy after the implementation of the two-child policy in China. Firstborn children aged 1.5–5 years old and their pregnant mothers were enrolled from two hospitals from March to September 2019 in our city. Mothers completed a self-designed questionnaire and Child Behavior Checklist during their routine prenatal examinations. Linear regression was used to explore potential factors influencing firstborn children’s behaviors and emotions towards their mother’s second pregnancy. A total of 880 firstborn children were included. There was no significant difference in internalizing/externalizing problem scores and prevalence between male and female firstborn children during their mothers’ second pregnancy. Children’s easy temperament, good parental relationship, and father’s authoritative and indulgent parenting styles were potential positive factors for both male and female firstborn children. Harmonious family environment, children’s age, father's accompaniment, and being informed by parents of the arrival of a sibling were only related to firstborn girls experiencing fewer emotional and behavioral problems. Mother’s education and seeking for firstborn children’s opinion about the new sibling were only related to firstborn boys experiencing fewer emotional and behavioral problems. There was no sex differences in internalizing/externalizing problems in firstborn children during their mother’s second pregnancy. Children’s temperament, family environment and fathers’ parenting styles were consistent influencing factors for both firstborn girls’ and boys’ emotions and behaviors.

My Sister's Keeper: Survivors Disclosing Sexual Violence to a Sibling

Siblings are often cited as a source of support throughout life, but they have not been included in studies of sexual violence disclosure. Survivors of sexual violence often delay or do not disclose their sexual violence. The current study investigated if and why survivors of sexual violence decided to disclose to their sibling. This qualitative investigation included 10 female participants, of which six had disclosed their abuse to their sibling. The participants ranged in age from 20 to 58, five identified as Hispanic, one as Hispanic and White three identified as White, and one identified as Middle Eastern. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. Three major themes were identified that affected sibling disclosure decisions: sibling dynamics, perceived and real reactions to disclosure, and words of advice. The findings from this study demonstrate the continued need to investigate siblings and their role in disclosure of sexual violence. Practitioners may also want to examine the sibling relationship as a source of support for survivors of sexual violence. Finally, as policies continue to develop around support of survivors of sexual violence, inclusion of siblings in family policies, outreach centers, and counseling services may be beneficial.

Firstborn Children's Reactions to Mother-Doll Interaction Do Not Predict Their Jealousy of a Newborn Sibling: A Longitudinal Pilot Study

Mothers are concerned about their firstborn children's acceptance of a baby sibling. Observing children's reactions to mothers interacting with an infant doll simulator has been offered as one means of seeing how children will react to the baby sibling. A longitudinal pilot study with 30 pregnant mothers and their firstborn children was conducted comparing children's behaviors to mother-doll interaction in the laboratory before birth with behaviors during home observations of mother-sibling interaction 1 month after birth. Children responded to mother-doll and mother-sibling interaction differently, with no significant associations across children's behaviors in mother-doll and mother-sibling interactions. The use of an infant doll simulator before birth did not reliably predict children's behavioral adjustment after the birth of a baby sibling.

Transition to siblinghood causes a substantial and long-lasting increase in urinary cortisol levels in wild bonobos

In animals with slow ontogeny and long-term maternal investment, immatures are likely to experience the birth of a younger sibling before reaching maturity. In these species, the birth of a sibling marks a major event in an offspring’s early life as the older siblings experience a decrease in maternal support. The transition to siblinghood (TTS) is often considered to be stressful for the older offspring, but physiological evidence is lacking. To explore the TTS in wild bonobos, we investigated physiological changes in urinary cortisol (stress response), neopterin (cell-mediated immunity), and total triiodothyronine (T3, metabolic rate), as well as changes in behaviors that reflect the mother–offspring relationship. Following a sibling’s birth, urinary cortisol levels of the older offspring increased fivefold, independent of their age, and remained elevated for 7 months. The cortisol level increase was associated with declining neopterin levels; however, T3 levels and behavioral measures did not change. Our results indicate that the TTS is accompanied by elevated cortisol levels and that this change does not coincide with nutritional weaning and attainment of physical independence. Our results suggest that bonobos and humans experience TTS in similar ways and that this developmental event may have emerged in the last common ancestor.

The mediating effect of parenting style on the relationship between first-born children's temperament and psychological adaptation

Chinese first-born children need to learn how to get along with their siblings after the implementation of the universal two-child policy in 2016. We investigated the relationships between temperament, parenting style, and psychological adjustment among firstborns. The current study employed a questionnaire survey conducted in four regions in China. A total of 524 Chinese two-child families participated in the study; the firstborns were between 3 and 8 years old and their younger siblings were between 1 month and 5 years old. The results indicated that (1) children’s temperament subscales were significantly related to parenting style subscales and psychological adaptation. Moreover, the parenting style subscales were significantly related to psychological adaptation, and (2) authoritarian parenting partially mediated the relationship between approach or withdrawal and psychological adjustment.

Comprehensive and Innovative Clinical Tools for Nurses and Parents to Help Promote Family and Sibling Adaptation in the NICU

Family-centered care (FCC) in NICUs aims to support parents and children facing the distressing experience of a preterm infant's NICU hospitalization. Neonatal nurses must also have proper knowledge of the support interventions for parents' and siblings' adaptation during the NICU hospitalization. This paper describes comprehensive and innovative clinical tools which consist of a clinical reference guide for nurses, a website for parents, and a storybook for siblings to promote families' adaptation, and help parents support their older children during NICU hospitalization. Based on scientific evidence and the family systems nursing approach, these comprehensive and innovative clinical tools for nurses, parents, and siblings contribute, through their development and implementation, to enhancing FCC and the quality of nursing care to families.

Factors Related to Psychological Distress in Multiparous Women in the First Trimester: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The birth rate in Taiwan has declined rapidly; thus, encouraging women to give birth is an important issue in the country. Pregnant women may experience psychological distress, which may negatively impact the health of children and mothers. Prenatal psychological distress is more common in multiparous women than in primiparous women. In addition, compared with that in the second and third trimesters, psychological distress in the first trimester is relatively high. Understanding psychological distress and the associated factors for multiparous women in the first trimester is important to providing early interventions and preventing subsequent maternal and child health problems.

PURPOSE

This study was designed to examine the important predictive factors related to depression, anxiety, and stress among Taiwanese multiparous women in the first trimester.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used. In all, 216 multiparous women at 16 weeks of pregnancy were recruited from three hospitals in Taiwan. Self-reported questionnaires were used to gather data on demographic characteristics, the parenting stress of motherhood, spousal support, and psychological distress. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with psychological distress.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress in multiparous women was found to be 31.9%, 42.6%, and 11.1%, respectively. The multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the stress related to parent-child interaction was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety, the stress related to child-rearing was a significant predictor of anxiety, and low spousal instrumental support was a significant predictor of stress. The model respectively explained 30%, 27%, and 23% of the variance in depression, anxiety, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Reducing the stress related to parent-child interaction and child-rearing and encouraging spousal instrumental support should be considered during prenatal care when designing interventions to reduce the psychological distress of multiparous women in their first trimester.

Siblings and Early Childhood Development: Evidence from a Population-Based Cohort in Preschoolers from Shanghai

(1) Background: The current study aims to investigate the association between the presence of a sibling and early childhood development (ECD). (2) Methods: Data were obtained from a large-scale population-based cohort in Shanghai. Children were followed from three to six years old. Based on birth order, the sample was divided into four groups: single child, younger child, elder child, and single-elder transfer (transfer from single-child to elder-child). Psychosocial well-being and school readiness were assessed with the total difficulties score from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the overall development score from the early Human Capability Index (eHCI), respectively. A multilevel model was conducted to evaluate the main effect of each sibling group and the group × age interaction effect on psychosocial well-being and school readiness. (3) Results: Across all measures, children in the younger child group presented with lower psychosocial problems (β = −0.96, 95% CI: −1.44, −0.48, p < 0.001) and higher school readiness scores (β = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.61, 2.51, p = 0.001). No significant difference, or marginally significant difference, was found between the elder group and the single-child group. Compared to the single-child group, the single-elder transfer group presented with slower development on both psychosocial well-being (Age × Group: β = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.56, p < 0.001) and school readiness (Age × Group: β = −0.75, 95% CI: −1.10, −0.40, p < 0.001). The sibling-ECD effects did not differ between children from families of low versus high socioeconomic status. (4) Conclusion: The current study suggested the presence of a sibling was not associated with worse development outcomes in general. Rather, children with an elder sibling are more likely to present with better ECD.

Mother of One to Mother of Two: A Textual Analysis of Second-Time Mothers' Posts on the BabyCenter LLC Website

Mothers use online resources frequently to obtain information on pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Yet, second-time mothers may have different concerns than first-time mothers given they have a newborn infant and another child at home. The current study conducted an on-line textual analysis of the posts of second-time mothers during pregnancy and the first months postpartum on the BabyCenter LLC website, one of the largest online parenting communities. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) analysis on roughly 16,000 posts to BabyCenter birth clubs in 2017 by approximately 4,000 users revealed second-time mothers relied on the online support of the BabyCenter community to share and discuss topics of pregnancy, birth, and child rearing. Second-time mothers also raised questions about preparing their firstborn children for a new baby sibling, how they would care for two children, whether they would love the second one as much as the first, and how the second child would change family dynamics. Future research needs to recognize that second-time mothers may have distinct concerns surrounding the birth of their second baby, and antenatal education and parenting classes may need to be modified to be more inclusive of these women's needs and perspectives. Online parenting communities offer avenues to support women as they make the transition from one child to two and may provide targeted opportunities to disseminate evidence-based practices that can assist these women and their children.

Family, personal, parental correlates and behavior disturbances in school-aged boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the relationship among family, personal, parental correlates, and behavioral disturbances in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODS

We performed a hospital-based cross-sectional study. School-aged boys who first visited the hospital between 2000 and 2011 with ADHD were identified. Through medical records review, demographic information, family characteristics, personal characteristics, parental characteristics, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) collected during the first outpatient visit were retrieved. A T-score higher than 63 in the internalizing or externalizing subscale of the CBCL indicated severe behavioral disturbances in each domain. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between the correlates and behavioral disturbances. Eligible patients were further classified into groups without behavioral disturbance, with either only severe internalizing or only severe externalizing behaviors, or with both behaviors. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to investigate the association between the correlates and the number of types of behavioral disturbances.

RESULTS

A total of 1855 boys with ADHD were included. In the multivariable logistic regression, family factors, including being first-born, living in a family not with both parents, and family history of mental disorder, were associated with severe internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Personal factors, including prenatal complications, perinatal complications, and medical and psychiatric comorbidities, were associated with severe internalizing behaviors, but only prenatal complications and medical comorbidities were associated with severe externalizing behaviors. Parental factors were only associated with severe externalizing behaviors. A higher paternal education level had a protective effect, but younger motherhood increased the risk. In ordinal logistic regression, these factors were also associated with more types of behavioral disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple factors are related to behavioral disturbances in ADHD. Our study reported the association among family, personal, parental factors, severe internalizing behavior, severe externalizing behavior, and number of behavioral disturbances in boys with ADHD. However, the impacts differed as the behavior phenotypes varied. Further research is needed to better understand the heterogeneity of ADHD behavior.

The Transition to Siblinghood: An Understudied Yet Influential Process Pertinent to Social Work Research

Across cultures, the majority of individuals will have a sibling relationship in their lifetime. Of particular importance to parents and children is the transition to siblinghood, which refers to the process wherein a child becomes a sibling. Although many parents are concerned about how their children will adjust during the transition to siblinghood, scant empirical work on this subject exists. Available empirical work on the transition to siblinghood has stemmed from developmental psychology; however, social work researchers have yet to deeply explore this body of work. The transition to siblinghood is a topic that is rife with opportunity for social work researchers, who have the ability to study this transition from culturally sensitive, person-in-environment, and social justice perspectives. This article provides an overview of the elements and importance of the transition to siblinghood, introduces a theoretical framework relevant to social workers, reviews existent empirical work on the transition to siblinghood, and elucidates limitations in the literature that social work researchers are adept to address. The article concludes with four recommendations to researchers who are interested in studying the transition to siblinghood through a social work lens.

Emotional and Behavioral Changes and Related Factors of Firstborn School-Aged Compared to Same Age Only Children

Objective

To compare the emotional and behavioral characteristics of firstborn children during the pregnancy of a second child and only children of school-age in urban districts of Chongqing, China, and to explore the influencing factors of emotional and behavioral problems.

Methods

We recruited mothers of firstborn children and only children from two hospitals and one primary school using purposive sampling. Questionnaires and the Parental Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to collect basic information, family socioeconomic status, family atmosphere and emotional and behavioral characteristics of their children in the survey.

Results

The sample consisted of 1,155 children, including 477 firstborn children and 678 only children. The average scores of internalizing (4.47), externalizing (6.05), total problems (22.04), and six emotional and behavioral of firstborn children were significantly lower than those of only children (p &lt; 0.05). When adjusted for children's demographic, socioeconomic and family relationship covariates, the scores of firstborn children internalizing problems (β = −1.423, p = 0.000), externalizing problems (β = −0.661, p = 0.048), and total problems (β = −4.387, p = 0.000) were also significantly lower than those of only children. All children with more difficult parenting and development temperament, greater family economic pressure, poorer relationships between mother and child, less harmonious family atmosphere and father's permissive parenting style had more internalizing problems, externalizing problems and total problems (p &lt; 0.05). Boys had more externalizing problems (β = 1.939, 95% CI = 1.380–2.497) and total problems (β = 4.908, 95% CI = 3.045–6.772) than girls.

Conclusion

Firstborn children had fewer emotional and behavioral problems than their counterparts who were only children. This research helps to understand the social impact of the implementation of the two-child policy in multiple dimensions.

Association between Second-Time Mother's Prenatal Depression and Firstborn's Behaviour Problems: The Mediation Role of Parenting Daily Hassles

Background: With the relaxation of birth control policy in China in recent years, second-time mothers’ mental health has raised concerns. However, the impact of firstborn children’s behaviour problems on second-time mothers’ prenatal depression in families transitioning to siblinghood has received little attention from family psychologists. Aims: This research aims to investigate whether firstborn children’s behaviour problems affect second-time mothers’ prenatal depression and the mediation role of daily parenting hassles, i.e., minor stressors associated with parenting, on this relationship. Methods: Data about second-time mothers’ prenatal depression, parenting daily hassles, and firstborn children’s behaviour problems were collected from 105 families transitioning to two children families using mother-reported questionnaires. Regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: About half of the mothers in the sample have depressive symptoms. Firstborns’ behaviour problems did not have a direct effect on the mother’s prenatal depression, but the problems did have an indirect effect via parenting daily hassles. The mothers’ age was significantly associated with prenatal depression. Conclusions: The mediation role of parenting daily hassles in the association with firstborn’s behaviour problems and mother’s prenatal depression suggests the need for support that reduce the levels of daily parenting hassles from firstborn children.

Indirect effects of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic on the prevalence of breastfeeding: Modeling its impact

INTRODUCTION

Breastfeeding has a protective effect against acute respiratory and diarrheal infections. There are psychological and social effects due to physical isolation in the population in the mother-child group.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact on infant mortality due to a decrease in the prevalence of breastfeeding during 2020 due to the physical isolation against the SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in Colombia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the population attributable risk approach taking into account the prevalence of breastfeeding and its potential decrease associated with the measures of physical isolation and the relative risk (RR) of the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the occurrence of acute infection consequences in the growth (weight for height) of children under the age of five through a mathematical modeling program.

RESULTS

We found an increase of 11.39% in the number of cases of growth arrest in the age group of 6 to 11 months with a 50% decrease in breastfeeding prevalence, as well as an increase in the number of diarrhea cases in children between 1 and 5 months of age from 5% (5.67%) on, and an increased number of deaths in children under 5 years (9.04%) with a 50% decrease in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS

A lower prevalence of breastfeeding has an impact on infant morbidity and mortality in the short and medium-term. As a public health policy, current maternal and childcare strategies must be kept in order to reduce risks in the pediatric population.

Promoting Family and Siblings' Adaptation Following a Preterm Birth: A Quality Improvement Project of a Family-Centered Care Nursing Educational Intervention

BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM

A Family-Centered Care (FCC) quality improvement project was implemented with nurses to promote families' and siblings' adaptation during the NICU hospitalization of a preterm infant. The objective of this quality improvement project was to compare the nurses' knowledge and perceptions as well as their implementation of nursing practices to facilitate the families' and siblings' adaptation during NICU hospitalization before and after they received the FCC educational intervention.

METHODS AND INTERVENTION

A pre- and post-intervention evaluation design was used in this quality improvement project. A convenience sample of 20 nurses was initially recruited and completed the pre-intervention, while 13 completed the post-intervention. The educational intervention included a reflective practice exercise and a face-to-face training session. Nurses completed a self-administered questionnaire with two subscales assessing their knowledge, perceptions, as well as their implementation of nursing practices related to family and sibling adaptation in the NICU.

RESULTS

The paired samples t-test shows Paired-samples t-test showed that the nurses' knowledge, perceptions and implementation of nursing practices were more favorable following the FCC educational intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this quality improvement project reinforce the value of supporting NICU nurses with educational training programs to enhance their practice. This educational intervention represents an effort to foster the implementation of FCC in NICUs.

Association of Birth Order With Mental Health Problems, Self-Esteem, Resilience, and Happiness Among Children: Results From A-CHILD Study

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association of birth order with mental health problems, self-esteem, resilience, and happiness among children aged 9-10 years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data from the Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty (A-CHILD) study, which was a population-based study of children in fourth grade in public schools in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan in 2018 (N = 3,744). Parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and self-rated resilience, happiness, and self-esteem score were used to assess child mental health. Multiple regression analysis for continuous outcomes and logistic regression for dichotomous outcomes were used to examine the association of birth order with mental health problems, resilience, happiness, and self-esteem. The analysis was controlled for child sex, mother's age, mother's education, caregiver's depressive symptoms, household income, and living with grandparents. Results: Last-borns showed the lowest total difficulties score in the SDQ, while only children showed the highest (p < 0.001). The highest prosocial behaviors score was found among last-borns (p < 0.001). Resilience score was also highest among last-borns, followed by first-borns, middle-borns, and only children. The lowest happiness score was found among middle-borns. Self-esteem score did not differ by sibling types. These associations were similar in the adjusted model and dichotomized outcomes model. Conclusions: Differential impacts of birth order on child mental health, for both positive and negative sides, were found. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanism of the association between birth order and the development of behavior problems and the positive aspects such as resilience, happiness, and self-esteem among children.

Mood Symptoms, Suicide, and Associated Factors Among Jimma Community. A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The global burden of mental health problems is high and is predicted to rise. At present, mood symptoms are the foremost common psychological problems worldwide, yet little is known regarding their magnitude and associated factors in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of anxiety, depressive, manic symptoms, and suicidal behavior among the rural Jimma community, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based quantitative cross-sectional survey was employed on 423 households selected through systematic random sampling. An adapted version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview tool was used for the structured face-to-face interview. The collected data were checked for completeness, coded, and inserted into Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Variables with P < g0.05 and odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] on multivariate logistic regression analysis were considered as factors associated with the outcome variable. Results: Overall, 185 (44.0%), 55 (13.1%), 44 (10.5%), and 23 (5.5%) of the respondents had anxiety, depressive, manic symptom, and suicide behavior, respectively. The odds of having anxiety symptoms were nearly 5 times higher among those who had perceived discrimination and racism experience compared to their counterpart [adjusted OR (AOR), 5.02; 95% CI, 1.90-13.26]. Likewise, recently bereaved participants had 4-fold higher odds of reporting depressive symptoms (AOR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.4-10.4) than the non-bereaved ones. Furthermore, respondents who had depressive symptoms were almost four and a half times more likely to have manic symptoms compared to those who did not (AOR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.71-11.02). Conclusion: Anxiety, depressive, manic symptoms, and suicidal behavior were prevalent in the community and positively associated with multiple psychosocial factors. Implementing accessible and affordable community-based mental health services is recommended to mitigate the problems.

Spanish validation and factor structure of the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire Revised (NuPDQ)

Background: Due to an absence of maternal stress being measured in routine prenatal care by clinicians, prenatal stress has become a serious problem which is associated with poorer obstetric outcomes, as well as worse maternal and infant health. For that reason, the aim of this study was the translation, validation and adaptation of Prenatal Distress Questionnaire Revised (NuPDQ) in a Spanish sample.Methods: Three-hundred and seventy-one pregnant women were assessed using the NuPDQ, the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The NuPDQ was translated into Spanish by the backtranslation method and administered to participants.Results: A confirmatory factor analysis revealed the established unidimensional structure to be a poor fit to data with the Spanish version. An exploratory factor analysis suggested a five-factor structure with 14 items. The instrument had good reliability, convergent and discriminant validity psychometric properties.Conclusions: The five-factor 14-item NuPDQ is useful to assess pregnancy-specific stress in Spanish pregnant women. It may be appropriate to use this instrument in order to identify pregnant women with high pregnancy-specific stress to try to prevent negative consequences derived from those high levels.

Early adversity and children's regulatory deficits: Does postadoption parenting facilitate recovery in postinstitutionalized children?

Children reared in orphanages typically experience the lack of stable, reliable caregivers and are at increased risk for deficits in regulatory abilities including difficulties in inhibitory control, attention, and emotion regulation. Although adoption results in a radical shift in caregiving quality, there remains variation in postadoption parenting, yet little research has examined postadoption parenting that may promote recovery in children experiencing early life adversity in the form of institutional care. Participants included 93 postinstitutionalized children adopted between 15 and 36 months of age and 52 nonadopted same-aged peers. Parenting was assessed four times during the first 2 years postadoption (at 2, 8, 16, and 24 months postadoption) and children's regulation was assessed at age 5 (M age = 61.68 months) and during kindergarten (M age = 71.55 months). Multiple parenting dimensions including sensitivity/responsiveness, structure/limit setting, and consistency in routines were examined. Both parental sensitivity and structure moderated the effect of preadoption adversity on children's emotion regulation while greater consistency was associated with better inhibitory control and fewer attention problems. Results support the notion that postadoption parenting during toddlerhood and the early preschool years promotes better regulation skills following early adversity.

"People said we were nuts … I understand what they were saying now": An Exploration of the Transition to Parenthood in Sibling Group Adoption

Despite U.S. federal laws that require placing siblings together in foster care whenever possible, a majority of children are still separated from at least one of their siblings when in foster care or when adopted, due to various barriers including difficulty finding adoptive parents that match the needs of sibling groups. Few studies have focused on the experiences of parents who adopt sibling groups, resulting in little understanding of (a) their motivations for doing so, and (b) the challenges and strengths that accompany sibling group adoption. The current exploratory longitudinal qualitative study aims to address this gap. Twelve parents in six same-sex couples who adopted a sibling group from foster care were interviewed before, immediately after, and two years after they adopted. Findings indicate that sibling group adoption introduces several obstacles during the transition to parenthood including difficulty responding to children's varied needs during the transition and difficulty developing a close bond with each child. Further, parents described challenges integrating their own expectations with the family practices of the sibling group. Parents also indicated ways that adopting siblings together deepened their understanding of their children's behaviors and provided opportunities to establish family norms even when one child was struggling to adapt to the transition. After several years, parents reported reorganizing their family roles to meet the needs of their children. They also identified areas of perceived competence (e.g., behavior management) and areas where challenges persisted (e.g., navigating birth family contact). Implications for policy and practice around supporting sibling group adoptions are discussed.

Maternal and paternal trajectories of depressive symptoms predict family risk and children's emotional and behavioral problems after the birth of a sibling

The current study examined trajectories of maternal and paternal depression in the year following the birth of an infant sibling, and relations with family risk factors and firstborn children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Latent class growth analysis was conducted on 231 families in a longitudinal investigation (prebirth and 1, 4, 8, and 12 months postbirth) and revealed four classes of families: both mother and father low in depressive symptoms (40.7%); mother high-father low (25.1%); father high-mother low (24.7%), and both mother and father high (9.5%). Families with both mothers and fathers high on depressive symptoms were higher on marital negativity, parenting stress, and children's internalizing and externalizing problems, and lower on marital positivity and parental efficacy than other classes. Children, parents, and marital relationships were more problematic in families with fathers higher on depressive symptoms than in families in which mothers were higher, indicating the significant role of paternal support for firstborn children undergoing the transition to siblinghood. Maternal and paternal depression covaried with an accumulation of family risks over time, no doubt increasing the likelihood of children's problematic adjustment after the birth of their infant sibling.

Mothers' Subjective Well-Being after Having a Second Child in Current China: A Case Study of Xi'an City

The introduction of the two-child family planning policy in China calls for a study of the response of mothers’ subjective well-being after the birth of a second child. Generally focusing on Western countries, previous studies suggested that a series of factors could influence the response, but insufficient attention has been paid to the relative importance of these factors so far. Based on survey data from mothers of two children in the Xi’an metropolitan area, Shaanxi Province, China, our study indicates that the important factors associated with mothers’ life satisfaction after having a second child were, in general, common to Western countries and China. There were also two factors somewhat unique to China: positive adjustment (i.e., becoming happier) by firstborn children (average age, 6 years old) following a sibling’s birth, predicted enhanced life satisfaction for mothers; additionally, mothers who had both a son and a daughter reported the highest increase in life satisfaction, while mothers who had two sons reported the lowest increase. Socioenvironmental constraints (i.e., parenting pressure and work–family conflict) had a larger association with mothers’ life satisfaction than individual ideational factors (e.g., family orientation and fertility desire). These findings suggest that fertility-friendly policies and convenient family intervention institutions are needed to alleviate potential undesirable consequences and improve maternal life quality following a second childbirth so that the two-child policy can be a success.

Chinese Adolescents' Sibling Conflicts: Links With Maternal Involvement in Sibling Relationships and Coparenting

This study explored how maternal involvement in sibling relationships and coparenting behaviors were associated with adolescents' sibling conflicts. Adolescents (M_age  = 12.25 years; 47.8% boys) and their mothers from 542 families in China participated in this research. Mothers completed questionnaires that assessed their strategies of involvement in sibling relationships, as well as their perceptions of the quality of their coparenting behaviors. Furthermore, adolescents completed questionnaires that assessed sibling conflicts. Results revealed that the mother's positive guidance was negatively related and their authoritarian control was positively related to sibling conflict. A significant interaction was also found between positive maternal guidance in sibling relationships and undermining coparenting behaviors. These findings underscore the unique and interactive effects of mothers' direct involvement in sibling relationships and coparenting behaviors in adolescents' sibling conflicts.

Risk and protective factors for pre- and postnatal bonding

Since disturbances in the mother-child bond increase the risk of negative consequences for child development, it is important to identify risk and protective factors for bonding as well as longitudinal associations. Previous research has used different bonding instruments during pregnancy and the postnatal phase, leading to inconsistent results. In the current study, the same instrument was used during the various phases. In a large, community-based sample (N = 793), general information, feelings of pre- and postnatal bonding (Pre- and Postnatal Bonding Scale), depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and partner support (subscale Tilburg Pregnancy/Postnatal Distress Scale) were measured at both 32 weeks of pregnancy and 8 months postnatally. Partner support was found to be a protective factor for suboptimal pre- and postnatal bonding, as was the engagement with fetal movements for prenatal bonding. High maternal educational level was a risk factor for suboptimal prenatal bonding, as were depressive symptoms for suboptimal postnatal bonding. The associations between most prenatal determinants and postnatal bonding were mediated by prenatal bonding, which underlines the importance of promoting prenatal bonding. Professionals in clinical practice should be aware of partner support, engagement with fetal movements, and postnatal depressive symptoms: All these factors offer opportunities for improving the bonding processes.

Vasopressin, but not oxytocin, modulates responses to infant stimuli in marmosets providing care to dependent infants

In family-living species, the quality and patterning of caregiving is the product of an individual's role within the family (mother, father, sibling) and parental experience, both of which interact with underlying neurobiological substrates. Among these substrates are the nonapeptides vasopressin and oxytocin, which modulate maternal, paternal, and alloparental care. We used a nonhuman primate model of the "nuclear family," the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), to investigate relationships between caregiving experience, role within the family, and activation of either the oxytocin or vasopressin systems in shaping responsiveness to offspring. During two phases of offspring development (early infancy, juvenile), mothers, fathers, and older siblings were treated with vasopressin, oxytocin, or saline via intranasal application, and tested for responses to infant distress stimuli in a within-subjects design. Interest in infant stimuli was highest among marmosets that were caring for infants compared to those caring for juveniles, and parentally experienced marmosets were quicker to respond to infant stimuli than first-time caregivers. Moreover, marmosets treated with vasopressin showed enhanced responsiveness to infant stimuli compared to control stimuli only when caring for infants. Thus, in all classes of marmoset caregivers, vasopressin enhances responsiveness to infant-associated stimuli in caregivers during periods in which infant care is most crucial.

Family structure, birth order, and aggressive behaviors among school-aged boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

PURPOSE

To evaluate the associations between family structure, birth order, and aggressive behaviors among school-aged boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODS

We conducted a matched case-control study. Data were retrieved from medical records at a psychiatry center in northern Taiwan. School-aged boys with ADHD who first visited the outpatient department at the psychiatric center between 2000 and 2011 were identified. The Child Behavior Checklist was used for aggressive behavior assessment. Boys with ADHD with T scores higher than 70 on the aggressive subscale were classified as cases and others with T scores lower than 70 were classified as controls at a 1:4 ratio. After controlling for other familial, personal, and parental factors, a multivariate conditional logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of family structure and birth order on aggressive behaviors of boys with ADHD.

RESULTS

277 cases and 1108 controls were included in the final analysis. Compared with living in a traditional family with both parents, living in a non-traditional family in which one or both parents were absent increased the risk of aggressive behaviors by 1.47-fold, with the highest risk for those in single parent families. Being the firstborn increased risk by 1.45-fold and the risk was higher when the firstborn had siblings.

CONCLUSIONS

Living in non-traditional families in which one or both parents were absent, and being the firstborn increased risk of aggression in school-aged boys with ADHD. Identification of this high-risk population and development of adequate preventive strategies are warranted.

Sociodemographic factors associated with postpartum physical activity levels in working women

Postpartum physical activity is important but is often neglected owing to conflicting priorities. Given the poor activity levels in the general Saudi population, women are especially likely to have poor postpartum activity levels. This study measured postpartum physical activity of Saudi working women and investigated the relationship between physical activity levels and sociodemographic factors. Study design: Cross-sectional study. This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January and June 2017. Working, postpartum Saudi women completed an online questionnaire including demographic information and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-short form. Of 486 women responding to the online invitation, 142 (29.2%) were eligible and participated. Based on IPAQ data, 23 (16.2%), 31 (21.8%), and 88 (62.0%) participants performed high, moderate or low levels of physical activity, respectively. No significant associations were found between the physical activity levels and sociodemographic factors. The most common factors discouraging physical activity were lack of time (21.2%) and childcare responsibilities (19.1%). The majority of participating working Saudi women had low postpartum physical activity levels. No sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with the level of physical activity. Measures may be required to promote postpartum physical activity among Saudi women.

Chronic Maternal Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Reduced Socio-Emotional Development in Children at 2 Years of Age: Analysis of Data From an Intervention Cohort in Rural Pakistan

Background: Maternal depression affects a high proportion of women during the antenatal and postnatal period in low- and middle-income countries. While maternal depression is recognized as a significant risk for poor early child development that warrants interventions, the effects of chronic maternal depression on children's development are less understood. Objective: To determine the association of chronicity of maternal depressive symptoms and early child development in a rural population in southern Pakistan. Materials and Methods: This study employs data from the "Pakistan Early Child Development Scale-Up Trial," a randomized controlled study that evaluated the integration of responsive stimulation and nutrition interventions in a community health service. In the present analysis, linear regression was used to test the effects of chronicity of high maternal depressive symptoms on children's early development (n = 1205 mother-infant dyads). Children's development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development at 24 months of age. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and every 6 months using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Results: No significant associations were observed between chronic maternal depressive symptoms and child cognitive, language, or motor development after adjusting for parental characteristics, the caregiving environment and socioeconomic variables. A negative significant association between chronicity of high maternal depressive symptoms and child socio-emotional development (β coefficient -2.57, 95% CI: -5.14; -0.04) was observed after adjusting for the selected variables. Conclusions: The results suggest that interventions designed to promote early child development should also integrate repeat screening for depression and longer-term psychosocial support for mothers.

Adult attachment and birth experience: importance of a secure base and safe haven during childbirth

Objective: Examine connections between mothers’ adult attachment and subjective birth experience in the context of parity and mode of delivery.

Background: Research has established a clear connection between adult attachment and birth experience. This study extended previous research with an in-depth self-report attachment measure examining different dimensions of mothers’ attachment representations and their relation to subjective birth experience.  Interactions between mode of delivery and parity were also considered. Method: Participants were 257 mothers who gave birth 4 days to 12 months prior to the study. Mothers’ mean age was 30.5 years, 61% primiparas, and 26% delivered by caesarean.  Participants completed an online survey with the Birth Experience Questionnaire, the Reciprocal Attachment Questionnaire, and demographic information.

Results: Hierarchical moderated regression analyses showed direct effects from adult attachment dimensions to mothers’ subjective birth experiences, specifically perceived availability, feared loss, separation protest, angry withdrawal, and compulsive careseeking. Interactions emerged for parity and/or mode of delivery for overall subjective birth experience, perceived control, perceived social support, and satisfaction.

Conclusion: Adult attachment representations related to subjective birth experience, indicating that attachment figures serve as secure bases and safe havens for mothers during childbirth. These results have implications for practitioners and provide direction for future research.

An examination of father vulnerability and coercive family process after the birth of a sibling: A spillover cascade model

Fathers are a crucial source of support for children following the birth of an infant sibling. This study examined whether fathers were more vulnerable to the effects of interparental conflict than mothers, and whether there was a subsequent spillover cascade from interparental conflict to children's externalizing behavior problems. We followed 241 families after the birth of a second child. Mothers and fathers reported on interparental conflict and parental efficacy at 1 and 4 months postpartum and punitive discipline and firstborn children's externalizing behavior problems across a longitudinal investigation (prenatal and 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum). For both mothers and fathers, interparental conflict prenatally predicted decreased parental efficacy following the birth. Fathers' lower parental efficacy was significantly associated with increased punitive discipline toward the older sibling at 4 months, whereas mothers' lower parental efficacy was not. Coercive family processes were present between mothers' and fathers' punitive discipline and older siblings' externalizing behavior problems. Results were inconsistent with the father vulnerability hypothesis in that both mothers and fathers were vulnerable to interparental conflict, which in turn spilled over to create coercive family processes that exacerbated children's externalizing behavior problems in the year following the birth of a second child.

Theory-of-Mind Development and Early Sibling Relationships after the Birth of a Sibling: Parental Discipline Matters

This study investigated relations among children's Theory-of-Mind (ToM) development, early sibling interactions, and parental discipline strategies during the transition to siblinghood. Using a sample of firstborn children and their parents (N = 208), we assessed children's ToM before the birth of a sibling and 12 months after the birth, and sibling interactions (i.e., positive engagement and antagonism) and parental discipline strategies (i.e., child-centred and parent-centred discipline) at 4 and 8 months in the first year of siblinghood. Structural equation modelling analyses revealed that children's ToM before the birth of the sibling predicted children's positive engagement with the infant sibling, whereas children's antagonistic behaviours towards the infant sibling negatively predicted children's ToM at 12 months, but only when mothers used low levels of child-centred discipline. These findings emphasize the role of parents in the development of young children's social- cognitive understanding in the context of sibling interactions even as early as the first year after the sibling's birth.

The reaction of firstborn children to a sibling before the birth: the role of the time at which they are told about the mother's pregnancy and their effortful control

OBJECTIVES

The reaction of firstborns to the impending arrival of a sibling has received little attention from family psychologists. The present study examined whether firstborns' positive feelings about their sibling before the birth were related to the time at which they were told about the mother's pregnancy and their effortful control, which was defined as the self-regulatory ability to inhibit a dominant response to perform a subdominant response. The goal of this research was to provide preliminary evidence in the social context of the two-child policy in China.

METHODS

The sample included 52 Chinese parents and their firstborns when mothers were in their third trimester of pregnancy with their second child. Data were obtained by means of observation and parent-reported questionnaires.

RESULTS

Firstborn children who were told earlier in their mothers' pregnancy were more likely to have positive feelings about their sibling before the birth. In addition, firstborns' effortful control was positively associated with positive feelings about a sibling before the birth. Last, firstborns' effortful control moderated the association between the time at which they were told and positive feelings about the sibling before the birth. Specifically, only when firstborns had low levels of effortful control, being told later about the pregnancy, was related to lower levels of positive feelings about the sibling.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings enhanced our understanding of how parents' preparation and firstborns' individual characteristics may have a role on firstborns' positive adjustment before the birth of a sibling.

Late, but not early, arriving younger siblings foster firstborns' understanding of second-order false belief

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Few studies have examined the influence of siblings on theory of mind in middle childhood.

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A second-order false belief task enacted with Playmobil® figures was given to 229 7-year-olds.

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Children with younger siblings outperformed those without.

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However, children with early arriving younger siblings did not have the same advantage.

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These findings demonstrate younger siblings can foster theory of mind beyond the preschool years.

This study examined the influence of younger siblings on children’s understanding of second-order false belief. In a representative community sample of firstborn children (N = 229) with a mean age of 7 years (SD = 4.58), false belief was assessed during a home visit using an adaptation of a well-established second-order false belief narrative enacted with Playmobil figures. Children’s responses were coded to establish performance on second-order false belief questions. When controlling for verbal IQ and age, the existence of a younger sibling predicted a twofold advantage in children’s second-order false belief performance, yet this was the case only for firstborns who experienced the arrival of a sibling after their second birthday. These findings provide a foundation for future research on family influences on social cognition.

Family Resource Allocation after Firstborns Leave Home: Implications for Secondborns' Academic Functioning

This study assessed secondborn adolescents' perceptions of changes in the allocation of family resources following their firstborn siblings' departure from home after high school, and whether perceived changes were related to changes over 1 year in secondborns' academic functioning. Participants were secondborn siblings (mean age = 16.58, SD = 0.91) from 115 families in which the older sibling had left the family home in the previous year. Allocation of resources was measured via coded qualitative interviews. Most (77%) secondborns reported increases in at least one type of family resource (i.e., parental companionship, attention, material goods), and many reported an increase in multiple types of resources in the year following their older sibling's departure. Consistent with resource dilution theory, perceptions of increases in fathers' companionship, fathers' attention, and mothers' companionship were related to improvements over time in secondborns' academic functioning.