| This study explored the development of emotional closeness between siblings from the theoretical perspectives of positive psychology and family systems. Emotionally close adult sibling pairs from intact families were interviewed about their sibling relationships, family experiences, and their perceptions of contributing factors to the development of their emotional closeness from childhood through adolescence and into various stages of adulthood. Method: Using qualitative research methods, 12 individuals (i.e., six sibling pairs) responded to semi-structured interviews exploring the characteristics of emotionally close sibling relationships in adulthood, as well as the family contexts of such relationships including, parental and multigenerational influences on the development of emotional closeness between siblings. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the Constant Comparative Method (Maykut & Morehouse, 1994), resulting in 10 major themes and 3 overarching analytical categories, including several new findings. Multigenerational genograms were used for additional assessment of participants' family systems. Participants varied in age (i.e., age 23 to 63), level of education (i.e., some high school to college graduate), income (i.e., less than 20K to more than 40K), race (i.e., Native American and Caucasian American), gender pairing (i.e., sis-sis, bro-bro, and bro-sis), and age-spacing (i.e., narrow and wide). Results: Emotionally close adult sibling pairs valued and utilized unconditional love in their sibling relationship, resolved sibling conflicts quickly, and experienced increased emotional closeness in adulthood. Parents of emotionally close siblings designated one parent as a full-time home-maker/stay-at-home parent, intervened in childhood sibling conflicts by teaching about unconditional love and the value of siblings as potential life-long sources of support for each other, and treated siblings fairly. Multigenerational family patterns included close sibling and other family relationships, sibling and family supportiveness, shared spiritual beliefs and shared spiritual beliefs. Family time was also highly valued across generations. Clinical implications, including multigenerational and multicultural implications are discussed as well as limitations of the study and suggestions for future research. A clinical guide for enhancing sibling relationships is also provided for clinicians, siblings, parents, and family members.;Keywords: siblings, closeness, parenting, family, multigenerational, positive psychology, unconditional love, conflict, stay-at-home parents, family time, family traditions, spirituality, Native American, American Indian. |
