2024/09/03 by Chang Su‐Russell, Sarah E. Killoren, Sarah Killoren +1
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development #Cognitive Abilities and Testing #Developmental psychology #Dynamics (music) #Early Childhood Education and Development #Family relationship #Psychology #Sibling #Sibling relationship #Social psychology
paper · doi:10.1111/fare.13081
crossref issued 2024/09/03 · crossref published 2024/09/03 · crossref published-online 2024/09/03 · openalex publication_date 2024/09/03 · crossref created 2024/09/04 · crossref deposited 2024/11/05 · crossref published-print 2024/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02 · crossref indexed 2026/08/02
Abstract Objective This study examined the associations between mothers' support of children's basic psychological needs (e.g., autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and children's sibling relationship quality in early childhood. We also examined the mediating role of older siblings' self‐regulation among these associations. Background According to self‐determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 2000), autonomy, competence, and relatedness are fundamental psychological necessities that support children's socioemotional well‐being and social relationship qualities. Method Our knowledge of how these family processes operate, however, is unclear, especially among families with young children (aged ≤6 years). The study involved 275 Latina, non‐Hispanic Black, or non‐Hispanic White mothers in the United States. They were asked to report their levels of support for children's basic needs, self‐regulation, and sibling relationship qualities. Results Mothers' support of children's competence and relatedness, but not autonomy, was positively related to children's positive involvement with their younger siblings. However, mothers' support of autonomy, competence, and relatedness was unassociated with children's sibling rivalry. Further, older siblings' self‐regulation mediated the positive association between mothers' support for children's autonomy and sibling positive involvement. Older siblings' self‐regulation did not mediate the associations between mothers' support for children's relatedness or competence and their positive sibling involvement. Conclusion Both maternal support for basic psychological needs and older siblings' self‐regulation may contribute to positive sibling relationships in early childhood. Implications Our findings inform practitioners, educators, and caseworkers that interventions enhancing children's self‐regulation may foster positive sibling relationships in early childhood.