Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Publication Date

4-21-1976

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare by discriminant analysis three groups of firstborn women: only children, women with one younger brother, and women with one younger sister. The total number of subjects was 75; there were 25 in each group. Subjects were undergraduates at a large southwestern university. A seven year age spacing was allowed between those women with younger siblings and the younger brother or sister. The mean age difference, however, was three years. The mean age of subjects was 22. Variables measuring self-image, sexual identity, preferences as to perception and judgment, and perceptions attributed to parents were subjected to a factor analysis. The variables were measured by the following instruments: Gough's Adjective Check List, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Parent Perception Index. Sixteen factors were found which accounted for 80 percent of the variance of the total data set. The sixteen factors were then used as variables in the discriminant analysis, which sought to maximally separate the three groups of women along these variables. The discriminant analysis results were significant at the .05 level of confidence. The results indicate that the only women tend to be highly confident, resourceful and assertive. They were the most independent of the three groups. They were also the least anxious and the least conventional in their outlook. The results suggest that these women are diligent, idealistic, strong-willed and autonomous. The women with brothers were found to be responsible, confident and thoughtful. They were more dependent than the only women and also more interested in the opposite sex. The results suggest that these women tend to be the most responsible and down-to-earth. The women with sisters were found to be the most conventional and also the most dependent. The results suggest that they seek to be more traditionally feminine, yet feel frustrated in the attempt. The frustration may involve resentment over feelings that they could not please their parents nor compete with their sisters. An important implication of this study is that within a particular birth order group, such as firstborns, personality differences emerge in relation to the presence or absence of a sibling, sex of the sibling, and aspects of the parents' relationship.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Counseling

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Individual, Family, and Community Education

First Committee Member (Chair)

Robert Micali

Second Committee Member

Peggy Janice Blackwell

Third Committee Member

Wayne Rowan Maes

Fourth Committee Member

Samuel Roll

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