This research seeks to examine the effects of family size (number of siblings) on the social and psychological adjustment of adults. The objectives are to look at the consequences of family size for a range of variables, such as individual well-being, leisure time, achievement motivation. Previous studies of the number of siblings have tended to focus exclusively on its impact on cognitive functioning and educational achievement. Thus this study constitutes a logical extension of that work. The study will use data from a 1976 archive, consisting of a national random sample of over 2000 adults. The project will contribute to an understanding of the ways in which number of siblings affects adult personality and adjustment, an important issue given the current declines in family size.
