Through thick and thin: a phenomenological exploration of sibling relationships in emerging adulthood

Abstract

Siblings are an essential part of an individual’s life. Research by the likes of Ciceralli, Adler, and Milevsky suggests that sibling relationships in young or emerging adulthood are an understudied topic. The following research employs qualitative research methods to examine the experiences of emerging adults in a sibling relationship. Findings suggest that the perception and experiences of sibling relationships have an impact on an individual’s social competence, identity, interpersonal relationships with familial and non-familial people, perceptions of self and the sibling.