Relationship with siblings as a predictor of empathy and humor styles in early adulthood

Abstract

Aims: Sibling relationships in early adulthood are explored relatively rarely. The aim of the current study was to describe this relationship and its importance for interpersonal functioning of young adults. Methods: The study included 100 participants at an average age of 27.08 years (SD=4.38); 60% were women (n=60) and 40% were men (n=40). The following tools were used in the study: Adult Siblings Relationships Questionnaire – Short Form, the Empathic Sensitiveness Scale and Humor Styles Questionnaire. Results: The study revealed that sisters have relationships with siblings that are based on warmth, and achieve higher average results in empathic care and personal distress and lower average results in self-defeating humor style than brothers. Relational variables with predictive value for empathy and humor styles were identified in both groups. In brothers, they explained a higher percentage of variance in results. Discussion: The study indicates that the quality of a relationship with adult siblings significantly influences a number of dimensions of interpersonal functioning. Conclusions: The study expands on psychological knowledge of family psychology and can be applied in family therapy practice.