The two biggest variables in this study centered around Rejecting Parenting which is characterized basically by no affection, meanness, and just a basic neglect of a child and not providing the essential things needed by a minor. The second biggest factor centered around sibling rivalry and the influence of siblings on each other. This was measured on how well the children played together, how they handled change and conflict.Participants in this study included a sample of 180 families from a population of 310 low-income families recruited from the Women, Infant, and Children Nutritional Supplement Program (WIC). They chose from these families European American, African-American, and Hispanic boys and sibling with 1-4 years of age between them. Each family had a series of visits and test that they had to undergo during different time frames. Teachers, parents, an assistant and an examiner assessed the children. When the child that was being observed turned age 2 home laboratory visits were done, and reports were compiled. At age 5 the child was observed playing along with his sibling and how they responded to different stimuli and at age 6 follow-up reports were done tracking the childrens performance.
Along with the two variables that I mentioned before, two hypotheses were being tested. The first hypotheses dealt with destructive sibling conflict and if it would be directly related to delinquent and aggressive behavior in children older than 4. They were trying to associate a direct link between sibling issues and delinquency (which they consider proactive behavior) and a direct link between rejecting parenting and aggressive behavior (which they consider reactive behavior). The second hypotheses (which is a little unclear to the reader) suggests that there will be a difference between was what originally reported and a difference would be created in reference to conduct issues after the children learn how to manage their anger and different behaviors. Following the findings of the studies one area were parents and teachers held constant was the area of combined sibling conflict and rejecting parenting and the effect it had on a childs behavior. The children who had both these variables in the situation were assessed with a higher rating of reactive behavior than children who had just one variable by both the teachers and the parents.
This fact leads them to believe that if a child has conflict with their siblings such as fighting, arguing or rivalry and they have negative parenting at home, it can spread into their everyday relationships. Not only can this aggressive behavior spread into their everyday relationships, it can also be clearly displayed. The other maternal findings that were not supported by the teachers were that delinquent behavior was directly related to destructive sibling conflict and sibling conflict was the cause for differences in the prediction of delinquent behavior. The researchers felt that the only reason the parents and not the teachers included came to the last two conclusions was because delinquency behavior would not be able to be observed in a classroom environment (totally). The researchers associated delinquent behavior with larceny, lying and hanging with the wrong crowd something parents might be more likely to see.
They also thought that the reason the teachers and the parents judged the same way on the aggressive behavior issues might have been associated with the things they were judging. This included temper tantrums, screaming, destruction of objects, and fighting. The researchers felt the study was limited because there was no prior knowledge of the sibling that was involved with the subjects. I think this is a very important factor and I agree with the researchers when they discuss the lack of information on siblings conduct problems. I also think a prior study should have been done on the parents and their parenting techniques. This could be a big factor in the study and if the parents came from abusive families could effect how they discipline their children.
