Born to be wild?
An extensive study, led by MIT economist, Joseph Doyle, looked into the behaviour of second-born children and the impact their birth-order has on them.
The research determined that the second child is between 25-40% more likely to face disciplinary issues when compared with their older siblings, particularly second-born boys (Reese from ‘Malcolm in The Middle’ immediately comes to mind).
It also found that they were more likely to enter the criminal justice system compared to their elder brothers or sisters.
The study was conducted in Denmark and Florida and yielded very consistent results, in spite of the geographical and cultural differences between the two locations.
Factors considered included infant and childhood health, parental investments, school quality, and sibling composition.
Doyle introduces this as ‘Second Child Syndrome’ which suggests that children born second are more likely to exhibit troublesome behaviour as a result of receiving less attention from parents than their elder siblings.
The results indicated that these kids have a higher likelihood of ending up in prison, receiving school suspensions, and engaging in juvenile delinquency compared to their older siblings.
To this, Doyle states that parental time investment is crucial.
Surprisingly, the study indicates that the birth of a second-born child actually extends early-childhood parental investments for their first-borns, inadvertently splitting parental attention between the two siblings.
The research recommended that the promotion of understanding and fostering a positive relationship within the family can help build a healthier societal perspective on birth order, as well as dispelling stereotypes around second-born siblings.
It also believes that educational programs and community initiatives can play a key role in encouraging empathy between siblings.
The study states that parents should try and adopt a more individualised parenting approach that acknowledges the uniqueness of each of their children, one that promotes confidence and builds on strengths.
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