A new study shows that
A University of Edinburgh study shows first-born children have higher IQs and better thinking skills than their siblings.
Middleborns are just as smart as their siblings.
But a study by the University of Illinois published earlier this year found that firstborns' IQs are only one point higher, on average, than their younger siblings — a fairly negligible difference.
First-born kids tend to be leaders, like CEOS and founders, and are more likely to achieve traditional success. Middle-born children often embody a mix of the traits of older and younger siblings, and they're very relationship-focused.
After examining 20,000 people, researchers from the University of Leipzig concluded that older siblings are smarter on average while younger siblings are healthier and are more likely to be gay (if they're men).
Younger siblings generally have a lower IQ than their older brothers and sisters, according to three large national surveys from the US, UK, and Germany.
The first born may experience certain emotions differently than the middle and youngest child or visa versa. According to Adler, the first born is more susceptible to depression because of high expectations of parents and suddenly losing the attention due to another sibling being born.
Researchers have found that the baby of the family is often slimmer and less prone to illness. As a result, younger siblings can expect to live longer than their older brothers and sisters.
Researchers have found a correlation between risk-taking and being the last-born sibling.
Black points to research she and her colleagues have conducted that found that firstborns tend to be smarter, richer, and all-around more successful than their younger siblings.
While the youngest sibling is usually the funniest kid, mom and dad favor the youngest for a reason that might surprise you. According to a new study conducted by Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, the youngest sibling of the family tends to be mom and dad's favorite child because of perception.
And experts say middle children do tend to be more empathetic. As a middle child, I have multiple perspectives on sibling relationships that my older and younger siblings never had. When you're the middle child, you have an older role model to learn from or look up to, and a younger prodigy to teach.
You've probably heard it before and brushed it off if you're a second, third or fourth+ child - but it's true: the eldest sibling is the smartest, according to research. And there's not just one reason for it.
First, it's possible first-borns are superior in some biological sense. They are born of younger wombs or to stronger healthier mothers, whose bodies are not yet ravaged by the demands of caring for other children.
The last born child is often described as sociable, charming, loving, and open, but also as temperamental, irresponsible, and self-centered. Birth order has a significant influence on our behavior in adulthood.
Although this is a robust and statistically significant finding the IQ difference is small. It means that in six out of ten cases the older sibling will have a higher IQ than the next youngest sibling.
A recent study has found that it's not the youngest child that's liked the most. It's actually the eldest! While eldest children around the world have had to be the example for their younger siblings and parents being extra strict on them, it looks like there was a good reason.
The best students tend to be the oldest of three children, with a brother less than two years younger than them and a sister at least five years younger. Birth order studies are a dime a dozen, but scientists have spilled far less ink on sibling configurations.
The research also revealed that older siblings are the most competitive, but also the most successful, with sisters being more competitive than brothers. Holiday destinations, parenting skills, and who drives the best car are also among the areas that bring out competitiveness among siblings.
It's hard to be the big sib. No matter how old you are, you're expected to take more responsibility, even when you're a very young person yourself. That's one reason that oldest children are often described as responsible, sensitive, perfectionistic, and a bit more anxious than their siblings.
Those with several older brothers are most affected, the study finds. Medical records show that by the age of 10, such children are already significantly shorter than the average. Those born last appear to grow up in an environment where parents are more stretched for time, money and the ability to lavish attention.
When Sadie Budden spent two years struggling to conceive she thought she might never have children. But then, to everyone's surprise, she gave birth to two – in the space of just six-and-a-half months. Against all the odds, Ronnie and his little sister Sienna were born only 208 days apart.
Younger siblings may be especially vulnerable to trauma because they are in an earlier developmental stage than the rest of the family. While older siblings and parents will be much more equipped to cope with the stress, the youngest child may feel left behind or not understand how to handle their emotions.
Many previous studies looked into this relationship. There is evidence that the first born children experience more stress than their younger siblings. Weiss (1970), conducted a study to assess the relation between birth order and anxiety.
Because of that long connection, she adds, siblings matter a lot for our personal growth and well-being. “Throughout the lifespan, people who have close sibling relationships have better mental health, better psychological health, and better social relationships, generally speaking.”