Birth Order, Perceived Appraisals by Significant Others, and Self-Esteem

Abstract
Two studies examined relationships between birth order, perceived evaluations of self by others, and self-esteem of college students ( Ns = 164 and 308). Taken together, the studies suggest that firstborns tend to be higher in self-esteem than laterborns, that these trends are more characteristic of females than of males, and that perceived appraisals of significant others are important in accounting for such birth-order differences. In addition, it appears that the perceived appraisals of close authority figures and particularly of fathers are most influential for firstborn females, while perceived appraisals of close peers are especially important for firstborn males.

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