Researchers from the University of Maryland, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins University sorted through data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on teen pregnancy and high school drop-outs. The researchers found that parents were more likely to withdraw financial support from first-borns who got pregnant or quit high school than their younger siblings. Parents were more likely to allow the younger brothers or sisters to live at home. Younger siblings were also more likely to drop out of school and get pregnant compared to the first-borns in the study.
Lead author Ginger Zhe Jim believes that most parents want to take a tough stand and set an example of their first-borns who get in trouble in order to deter the younger ones from following suit.
This study appears in Economic Journal.
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Labels: parenting, siblings, rules
Posted By: Aspen Education Group
The first child is special.
There would probably be a zillion pictures of her whilst the 2nd and third hardly that.
The first child also gets responsibilities earlier....look after her younger sibling..get her diapers...get her bottle etc.
All these must have some effect.