When discussing whether parents have a favorite child, chances are mom and dad would keep mum. But new research has found which siblings in a family are more likely to get preferential treatment.
A new study found that birth order, temperament, and gender may affect the way a parent favors a child. The findings come after researchers analyzed data from 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and 14 databases containing information on about 19,000 people.
Apart from the factors mentioned, researchers also took note of how parents reported their overall treatment, interactions, and resource allocation with each child to determine parental favoritism.
Who Is the Favorite Child?
The researchers found that parents tend to favor older siblings, especially in areas of control. Parents are more likely to give greater autonomy to their older children and control them less than their younger siblings.
The research also suggested that children who were conscientious---those who are responsible, organized, and diligent---are also more likely to be favored by parents.
In addition, the study found that parents reported favoring their daughters more, which could stem to girls being easier to parent. A small bias was also seen toward children who were agreeable.
It was noted that children who were extraverted---those who are motivated by social interactions---were not associated with parental favoritism.
The findings were published on Thursday by the American Psychological Association.
How Does Parental Favoritism Affect Children?
Parental favoritism can have a big impact on children, both in the short term and long into adulthood. When parents consistently show preference for one child over another, it can hurt the emotional well-being of all the kids in the family.
For children who aren't the favorite, it often leads to feelings of low self-worth, depression, and anxiety. They may struggle with self-esteem issues and feel like they can never measure up. This can affect their performance in school, their relationships, and even follow them into their adult lives.
On the flip side, being the favored child isn't always great either. These kids may feel a lot of pressure to keep being "perfect" and may have trouble dealing with failure. They might also face resentment from their siblings, which can damage those important relationships.
The effects of favoritism tend to last well beyond childhood. Adults who felt their parents had a favorite often report feeling less close to their siblings and parents. They may be more likely to become estranged from family members. Favoritism can also impact how people form relationships outside the family, potentially leading to trust issues or difficulty maintaining healthy connections with others.
