The goals of the proposed research are (1) to develop a new observational methodology for studying sibling and parent-child relationships and their mutual influence in earl. adolescence, (2) to provide a comparison with previously used methods, and (3) to address questions concerning longitudinal stability and change in patterns of family relationships and their links with children's self concept. A two-phase study is planned, with phase one an intensive naturalistic study of 10 families, and phase two a study focusing on a sample of 43 families previously studied in early childhood. Naturalistic observations, videotaped mealtime observations and interviews with family members will be obtained. Family relational processes will be studied at a variety of levels, including discourse analysis. The approach and lessons learned from it will form the basis of a proposal for a large-scale study of family relationships in early adolescence.
| Dunn, J; Slomkowski, C; Beardsall, L et al. (1994) Adjustment in middle childhood and early adolescence: links with earlier and contemporary sibling relationships. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 35:491-504 |
| Dunn, J; McGuire, S (1992) Sibling and peer relationships in childhood. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 33:67-105 |
| Dunn, J; Plomin, R (1991) Why are siblings so different? The significance of differences in sibling experiences within the family. Fam Process 30:271-83 |
