Adversities in Childhood: Siblings' Experiences, and their Relations to Self‐Esteem

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The prevalence and negative impact of life events and adversities over a 3‐year period on 80 children participating in a longitudinal study of siblings was examined. The scenarios of 256 events were rated by a child psychiatrist for negative impact on both siblings (aged 6 and 8–10 years, respectively). Only one of the 80 children had not experienced at least one major event. The majority (69%) of life events with negative impact and adversities were not shared by siblings. The relations between the impact of these adversities and children's perceived self‐competence, temperament, and their mothers' mood were examined. The number of life events with negative impart was negatively correlated with children's perceived self‐competence. an association apparently not mediated by children's temperament nor by maternal mood.