People with sisters are likely to be happier and optimistic, research from De Montfont University and Ulster University claims.
The study quizzed 571 young people aged 17 to 25 on their lives and found that those who grew up with sisters were more likely to be happy.
Participants filled in psychological questionnaires that were used to assess a range of issues, including mental health and a positive outlook.
It turns out sisters encourage their siblings to be more open and communicative about their feelings, which promotes good mental health, the researchers believe.
Professor Tony Cassidy, who helped carry out the study, said: “Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. However, brothers seem to have the alternative effect. Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families. It could be that boys have a natural tendency not to talk about things. With boys together it is about a conspiracy of silence not to talk. Girls tend to break that down.”
Cassidy said the findings were even more pronounced in families where parents had split up, adding: “I think these findings could be used by people offering support to families and children during distressing times. We may have to think carefully about the way we deal with families with lots of boys.”
Similarly, a study by from Brigham Young University that involved 395 families with more than one child found having a sister makes you a kinder person.
The research also shows that brothers bring benefits too, as long as the relationship is more loving than combative.
Lead researcher Laura Padilla-Walker said: “Sibling affection from either gender was related to less delinquency and more pro-social behaviours like greater kindness and generosity, volunteering and helping others.”
