Have you ever wondered if parents really have favorites among their children? A recent study might have the answer. Researchers analyzed data from 30 studies, with nearly 20,000 participants, and found that parents often favor their daughters over their sons. They also tend to give more attention to kids who are seen as agreeable or conscientious.
This study, published in the Psychological Bulletin, highlights that favoring a child doesn’t mean loving one less. It can involve being nicer, spending more time with one child, or having less conflict with them. Alexander Jensen, one of the authors and a professor at Brigham Young University, explained, “It’s about different types of interactions rather than love.”
The implications of these differences can be significant. Children who receive more positive attention from parents tend to experience better mental health, do well in school, and maintain healthier family relationships. However, those who feel less favored might face challenges in these areas.
Jensen noted that if kids understand why they’re treated differently, it can help them accept it. For example, an older child may feel neglected when a parent spends more time helping a younger sibling. But once they realize the younger child needs extra support, they can better understand the situation.
The study also included data from various backgrounds, mostly from North America and Western Europe, which means the results might not apply universally. Jensen and his team studied various factors, including a child’s birth order, gender, personality traits like agreeableness and extraversion, and how these factors influenced parental treatment. They looked at interactions, spending habits, and rules set by parents to measure favoritism.
While the study reveals some trends, it doesn’t fully explain why parents favor daughters or more agreeable children. The researchers suggest that agreeable kids may be easier to manage, which prompts parents to respond more positively to them.
Future research will be important to explore whether these patterns exist in more diverse family structures and different stages of life, like how relationships evolve when children become adults. Understanding these dynamics can help parents be more mindful of their interactions with each child.
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