Exploring Filipino sibling dyads in childhood and adolescence: Relationship quality and relational satisfaction

• Main Author: Galang, Mary Jane A.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Siblings; Families; Relationship quality
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/13093
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship quality and relational satisfaction of sibling dyads in childhood and adolescence. Relationship quality was measured in terms of closeness, frequency of communication and engaging in talk. Specifically, this study investigated the nature of Filipino sibling dyads relationship quality and relational satisfaction, the extent to which relationship quality would differ in childhood and adolescence, the role of relative birth order and gender in relationship quality and relational satisfaction, and the significant relationship between relationship quality and relational satisfaction in child and adolescent sibling dyads. Nineteen sibling dyads each in childhood and adolescence participated in the study. Three measures, namely: Relational Closeness Scale (RCS), Revised Taxonomy of Interpersonal Speech Events that examined the everyday topics in which siblings were engaged and Relational Satisfaction Scale (RSC) were used. Results of the study indicated that relative birth order and gender do not affect the sibling dyads relationship quality in childhood and adolescence. Sibling dyads in childhood reported the same levels of closeness (M=8.11) and in adolescence (M=7.74); sibling dyads reported frequency of communication (e.g. face-to-face) and engaging talk (“asking favour” and “joking around) in both childhood and adolescence. There was no significant difference between sibling dyads relationship quality in terms of closeness, frequency of communication, engaging talk and relational satisfaction among children and adolescents. The hypothesis that there was a significant relationship between sibling dyads relationship quality and their relational satisfaction in childhood and adolescence was supported by findings of the study.