The Third Rail of Family Systems: Sibling Relationships, Mental and Behavioral Health, and Preventive Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence

Sibling relationships are an important context for development, but are often ignored in research and preventive interventions
with youth and families. In childhood and adolescence, siblings spend considerable time together, and siblings’ characteristics
and sibling dynamics substantially influence developmental trajectories and outcomes. This paper reviews research on sibling
relationships in childhood and adolescence, focusing on sibling dynamics as part of the family system and sibling influences
on adjustment problems, including internalizing and externalizing behaviors and substance use. We present a theoretical model
that describes three key pathways of sibling influence: one that extends through siblings’ experiences with peers and school,
and two that operate largely through family relationships. We then describe the few existing preventive interventions that
target sibling relationships and discuss the potential utility of integrating siblings into child and family programs.