How to Cope With Adult Siblings Fighting
Sibling rivalry isn’t always outgrown in childhood.
In some cases, it only intensifies as time passes.
Sibling rivalry is characterized by competitiveness, conflict, and jealousy among siblings.
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It can involve biological siblings, but it can also include stepsiblings, adopted siblings, and foster siblings.
While common in childhood, it often affects adult sibling relationships as well.
Find out which option is the best for you.
Adult children often report perceived favoritism, and parents themselves report feeling closer to one child than others.
Parental favoritism is often cited as an explanation for adult siblings fighting.
They may not even be aware of it, and most likely not doing it to hurt your feelings.
Find a support system that offers unconditional love andinvest your energy there.
Dont Perpetuate Sibling Rivalry
Dont compete with your siblings, and dont blame them for being favored.
Just accept that your relationship with your parents is yours and venture to keep it separate from sibling relationships.
If you dont come at them from a place of need, you will actually have more personal power.
It may be difficult to get into this frame of thought, but youll feel better after you do.
Start by noticing all that you do get from them, and valuing that.
you could also adopt general stress management habits to lessen theoverall stress loadand make it easier to cope.
Whiteman SD, McHale SM, Soli A.Theoretical perspectives on sibling relationships.J Fam Theory Rev.
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Jensen AC, Whiteman SD, Fingerman KL, Birditt KS.
“Life still isn’t fair”: parental differential treatment of young adult siblings.J Marriage Fam.
2020;34(2):175-185. doi:10.1037/fam0000586
