Which one is better: to have a sibling or not? What would be the long term effects on your life? There are many stereotypes about people with siblings and people with no siblings, but are these stereotypes true?

The true answer to this question is, no? Only children are just as happy, and they have as many friends as those that do have siblings. Their personalities being close to the oldest sibling, although more independent (Research Addict).

Currently, in the United States, families with only children are increasing 20-30%, due to a variety of social and economic factors; this includes delayed marriage and childbearing, higher rates of educational attainment and workforce involvement for women, and the high cost of raising a child (The Christian Science Monitor).

Although only children have a higher rate of success and independence, children with siblings tend to be more selfless (International Schools).

Only children tend to succeed in school and have a closer relationship with their parents because there is no sharing attention.

Kids with siblings have a constant playmate, and this teaches kids how to resolve conflicts, which helps with future jobs and relationships (ABC News).

Psychologist Susan Newson states that parents of children with no siblings will have to particularly focus on their child’s willingness to share and resolve conflict – although this is not the same for everyone (ABC News). 

Children with close relationships with friends and family members like cousins tend to show no signs of this stereotypical only child (ABC News). Even those that do show signs of a stereotypical oldest sibling are selfless and very outgoing (Research addict.com).

So why are these stereotypes of an only child not debunked? After all, they have been proven time and time again to be false? 

Even stereotypes of the oldest sibling being the most mature and the middle child being the troublemaker tend to continue (BBC News). why? Personally, I think this stereotype is because we already have the idea of the way someone is, when they do something related to this stereotype we think this to be true.

What do you guys think? Are these stereotypes type?

And yeah maybe sometimes we hate our siblings and think they fit these stereotypes perfectly, but “Having that sibling bond is something great, and I couldn’t imagine not having it” (Abby Pham 9). For only children that is something that they are missing, but they do probably have a way better parent bond that kids with siblings couldn’t imagine. what bond would you prefer?