A Multilevel Approach to Sibling Warmth and Conflict among Korean Young Adults by Gender: Roles of Sibling and Parent-Child Characteristics

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine which sibling and parent-child characteristics were associated with siblisng warmth and conflict among Korean young adults. The data came from an online survey of Koreans aged 19-34 years who had at least one sibling and two living parents. We conducted a multilevel regression analysis using data from 193 men with 305 siblings and 203 women with 286 siblings. The results showed that, for men, the levels of warmth were higher when the sibling was younger, when they received more frequent financial and instrumental support from the sibling, and when maternal favoritism was relatively lower. Women reported higher levels of warmth when the sibling was a sister, when they provided more frequent support for the sibling, when they had a more affectionate relationship with the mother, and when paternal favoritism was lower. As for sibling conflict, the number of siblings was positively associated with the levels of conflict among both men and women. Maternal affection was negatively related with conflict for men, and paternal favoritism was positively related to conflict for women. Interestingly, women’s sibling warmth and conflict were both higher when the sibling was a sister, which meant that relationships between sisters tended to be ambivalent. This study contributes to our understandings of Koreans’ sibling relationships in young adulthood.