Emotional and behavioral characteristics of firstborn children in transition to siblinghood: a systematic review_Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine

Authors：

YANG Bo ,  LIU Qin , SHENG Lulu , HUANG Xin , LI Yueyue , FANG Bo

School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R.China;

Corresponding author：

LIU Qin, Email: liuqin81622@163.com

Keywords：

Firstborn children; Transition to siblinghood; Emotion; Behavior; Systematic review

DOI：

10.7507/1672-2531.202004145

Video：

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Objective To identify the effects of transition to siblinghood (TTS) on the firstborn children’s emotions and behaviors, and to define the time of TTS.Methods CBM, VIP, CNKI, WanFang Data, PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCO were electronically searched to collect studies on the emotional and behavioral characteristics of firstborn children in TTS from inception to December 31^st, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk bias of included studies. Then, qualitative methods were used to analyze the studies.Results A total of 13 studies involving 980 children were included. 12 behavioral related studies explored self-behavior of the firstborn children during TTS, 3 studies focused on the interaction behavior between the firstborn children and their parents, the firstborn children and the second children. The systematic reviews found that TTS showed both positive and negative effects on the behavioral characteristics of firstborn children, primarily the negative effects. Firstborn children’s anxiety, confrontation and attachment showed 3 different patterns over time, respectively. Two studies showed the increase of negative emotions of firstborn children during TTS. The time range of TTS was mainly concentrated in the third trimester to 12 months after the birth of the second child.Conclusions The current evidence shows that TTS primarily increases the negative emotions and behaviors of firstborn children, and the behaviors of firstborn children changes over time. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.

Citation： YANG Bo, LIU Qin, SHENG Lulu, HUANG Xin, LI Yueyue, FANG Bo. Emotional and behavioral characteristics of firstborn children in transition to siblinghood: a systematic review. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2021, 21(2): 160-167. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.202004145 Copy

1.	Kim JY, Ha EH. Cluster analysis of the child behavior checklist 1.5-5 for preschool children diagnosed with a mental disorder. Psychol Rep, 2019, 5(2): 33294119844980.
2.	Wood JJ, Cowan PA, Baker BL. Behavior problems and peer rejection in preschool boys and girls. J Genet Psychol, 2002, 163(1): 72-88.
3.	Hester PP, Baltodana HM, Gable RA, et al. Early intervention with children at risk of emotional/behavioral disorders: a critical examination of research methodology and practices. Educ Treat Child, 2003, 26(4): 362-381.
4.	Volling BL. Family transitions following the birth of a sibling: an empirical review of changes in the firstborn's adjustment. Psychol Bull, 2012, 138(3): 497-528.
5.	Gullicks JN, Crase SJ. Sibling behavior with a newborn: parents' expectations and observations. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 1993, 22(5): 438-444.
6.	Field T, Reite M. Children's responses to separation from mother during the birth of another child. Child Dev, 1984, 55(4): 1308-1316.
7.	Wilford B, Andrews C. Sibling preparation classes for preschool children. Matern Child Nurs J, 1986, 15(3): 171-185.
8.	Dunn J, Kendrick C. The arrival of sibling: changes in patterns of interaction between mother and first-born child. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1980, 21(2): 119-132.
9.	Noyes J, Booth A, Flemming K, et al. Cochrane qualitative and implementation methods group guidance series-paper 3: methods for assessing methodological limitations, data extraction and synthesis, and confidence in synthesized qualitative findings. J Clin Epidemiol, 2018, 97: 49-58.
10.	Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. CASP (insert name of checklist i.e. Qualitative) Checklist. Available at: https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/.
11.	Stang A. Critical evaluation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the assessment of the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses. Eur J Epidemiol, 2010, 25(9): 603-605.
12.	张若林, 帅兰军, 李晓燕, 等. 出生体重与慢性肾脏病关联性的系统评价和Meta分析. 中国循证儿科杂志, 2017, 12(2): 93-99.
13.	Rostom A, Dube C, Cranney A, et al. Celiac disease (Evidence Reports/Technology Assessments, No. 104). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2004.
14.	Dunn J, Kendrick C. Interaction between young siblings: association with the interaction between mother and firstborn child. Dev Psychol, 1981, 17(3): 336-343.
15.	Kendrick C, Dunn J. Caring for a second baby: effects on interaction between mother and firstborn. Dev Psychol, 1980, 16(4): 303-311.
16.	Kendrick C, Dunn J. Protest or pleasure? The response of first-born children to interactions between their mothers and infant siblings. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1982, 23(2): 117-129.
17.	Kendrick C, Dunn J. Sibling quarrels and maternal responses. Dev Psychol, 1983, 19(1): 62-70.
18.	Feiring C, Lewis M, Jaskir J. Birth of a sibling: effect on mother-first born child interaction. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 1983, 4(3): 190-195.
19.	Gottlieb LN, Baillies J. Firstborns' behaviors during a mother's second pregnancy. Nurs Res, 1995, 44(6): 356-362.
20.	Harris MJ, John K, Sharp R. The effects of a mother's second pregnancy on the firstborn child. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 1989, 29(3 Pt 2): 319-321.
21.	Kolak AM, Volling BL. Coparenting moderates the association between firstborn children's temperament and problem behavior across the transition to siblinghood. J Fam Psychol, 2013, 27(3): 355-364.
22.	Volling BL, Yu T, Gonzalez R, et al. Children's responses to mother-infant and father-infant interaction with a baby sibling: jealousy or joy? J Fam Psychol, 2014, 28(5): 634-644.
23.	Oh W, Volling BL, Gonzalez R. Trajectories of children’s social interactions with their infant sibling in the first year: a multidimensional approach. J Fam Psychol, 2015, 29(1): 119-129.
24.	Stewart RB, Mobley LA, Salvador TMA. The firstborn’s adjustment to the birth of a sibling: a longitudinal assessment. Child Dev, 1987, 58(2): 341-355.
25.	Teti DM, Sakin JW, Kucera E, et al. And baby makes four: predictors of attachment security among preschool-age firstborns during the transition to siblinghood. Child Dev, 1996, 67(2): 579-596.
26.	Touris M, Kromelow S, Harding C. Mother-firstborn attachment and the birth of a sibling. Am J Orthopsychiatry, 1995, 65(2): 293-297.
27.	丁常聪, 李红霞, 陈晓萍, 等. 二孩的出生对幼龄大孩的心理影响. 重庆医学, 2018, 47(31): 4064-4066.
28.	张星玮. 二孩出生前后一年内大孩的行为变化和家庭应对策略. 石家庄: 河北大学, 2018.
29.	赵雪. 亲子依恋对8-12岁头胎儿童接纳二胎的影响. 成都: 四川师范大学, 2018.
30.	Kojima Y, Irisawa M, Wakita M. The impact of a second infant on interactions of mothers and firstborn children. J Reprod Infant Psyc, 2005, 23(1): 103-114.
31.	Bronfenbrenner U. The ecology of human development: experiments by nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979.
32.	Hill R. Families under stress. Adjustment to the crises of war separation and reunion. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1949.
33.	Cowan CP, Cowan PA. When partners become parents. New York: Basic Books, 1992.
34.	章景丽, 陈瑞美, 陈秋, 等. 家庭因素与学龄前儿童情绪与行为问题的关联研究. 中华疾病控制杂志, 2019, 23(2): 168-171.
35.	Tamis-Lemonda CS, Briggs RD, Mcclowry SG, et al. Maternal control and sensitivity, child gender, and maternal education in relation to children’s behavioral outcomes in African American families. J Appl Dev Psychol, 2009, 30(3): 321-331.

1. Kim JY, Ha EH. Cluster analysis of the child behavior checklist 1.5-5 for preschool children diagnosed with a mental disorder. Psychol Rep, 2019, 5(2): 33294119844980.
2. Wood JJ, Cowan PA, Baker BL. Behavior problems and peer rejection in preschool boys and girls. J Genet Psychol, 2002, 163(1): 72-88.
3. Hester PP, Baltodana HM, Gable RA, et al. Early intervention with children at risk of emotional/behavioral disorders: a critical examination of research methodology and practices. Educ Treat Child, 2003, 26(4): 362-381.
4. Volling BL. Family transitions following the birth of a sibling: an empirical review of changes in the firstborn's adjustment. Psychol Bull, 2012, 138(3): 497-528.
5. Gullicks JN, Crase SJ. Sibling behavior with a newborn: parents' expectations and observations. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 1993, 22(5): 438-444.
6. Field T, Reite M. Children's responses to separation from mother during the birth of another child. Child Dev, 1984, 55(4): 1308-1316.
7. Wilford B, Andrews C. Sibling preparation classes for preschool children. Matern Child Nurs J, 1986, 15(3): 171-185.
8. Dunn J, Kendrick C. The arrival of sibling: changes in patterns of interaction between mother and first-born child. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1980, 21(2): 119-132.
9. Noyes J, Booth A, Flemming K, et al. Cochrane qualitative and implementation methods group guidance series-paper 3: methods for assessing methodological limitations, data extraction and synthesis, and confidence in synthesized qualitative findings. J Clin Epidemiol, 2018, 97: 49-58.
10. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. CASP (insert name of checklist i.e. Qualitative) Checklist. Available at: https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/.
11. Stang A. Critical evaluation of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the assessment of the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses. Eur J Epidemiol, 2010, 25(9): 603-605.
12. 张若林, 帅兰军, 李晓燕, 等. 出生体重与慢性肾脏病关联性的系统评价和Meta分析. 中国循证儿科杂志, 2017, 12(2): 93-99.
13. Rostom A, Dube C, Cranney A, et al. Celiac disease (Evidence Reports/Technology Assessments, No. 104). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2004.
14. Dunn J, Kendrick C. Interaction between young siblings: association with the interaction between mother and firstborn child. Dev Psychol, 1981, 17(3): 336-343.
15. Kendrick C, Dunn J. Caring for a second baby: effects on interaction between mother and firstborn. Dev Psychol, 1980, 16(4): 303-311.
16. Kendrick C, Dunn J. Protest or pleasure? The response of first-born children to interactions between their mothers and infant siblings. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 1982, 23(2): 117-129.
17. Kendrick C, Dunn J. Sibling quarrels and maternal responses. Dev Psychol, 1983, 19(1): 62-70.
18. Feiring C, Lewis M, Jaskir J. Birth of a sibling: effect on mother-first born child interaction. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 1983, 4(3): 190-195.
19. Gottlieb LN, Baillies J. Firstborns' behaviors during a mother's second pregnancy. Nurs Res, 1995, 44(6): 356-362.
20. Harris MJ, John K, Sharp R. The effects of a mother's second pregnancy on the firstborn child. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 1989, 29(3 Pt 2): 319-321.
21. Kolak AM, Volling BL. Coparenting moderates the association between firstborn children's temperament and problem behavior across the transition to siblinghood. J Fam Psychol, 2013, 27(3): 355-364.
22. Volling BL, Yu T, Gonzalez R, et al. Children's responses to mother-infant and father-infant interaction with a baby sibling: jealousy or joy? J Fam Psychol, 2014, 28(5): 634-644.
23. Oh W, Volling BL, Gonzalez R. Trajectories of children’s social interactions with their infant sibling in the first year: a multidimensional approach. J Fam Psychol, 2015, 29(1): 119-129.
24. Stewart RB, Mobley LA, Salvador TMA. The firstborn’s adjustment to the birth of a sibling: a longitudinal assessment. Child Dev, 1987, 58(2): 341-355.
25. Teti DM, Sakin JW, Kucera E, et al. And baby makes four: predictors of attachment security among preschool-age firstborns during the transition to siblinghood. Child Dev, 1996, 67(2): 579-596.
26. Touris M, Kromelow S, Harding C. Mother-firstborn attachment and the birth of a sibling. Am J Orthopsychiatry, 1995, 65(2): 293-297.
27. 丁常聪, 李红霞, 陈晓萍, 等. 二孩的出生对幼龄大孩的心理影响. 重庆医学, 2018, 47(31): 4064-4066.
28. 张星玮. 二孩出生前后一年内大孩的行为变化和家庭应对策略. 石家庄: 河北大学, 2018.
29. 赵雪. 亲子依恋对8-12岁头胎儿童接纳二胎的影响. 成都: 四川师范大学, 2018.
30. Kojima Y, Irisawa M, Wakita M. The impact of a second infant on interactions of mothers and firstborn children. J Reprod Infant Psyc, 2005, 23(1): 103-114.
31. Bronfenbrenner U. The ecology of human development: experiments by nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979.
32. Hill R. Families under stress. Adjustment to the crises of war separation and reunion. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1949.
33. Cowan CP, Cowan PA. When partners become parents. New York: Basic Books, 1992.
34. 章景丽, 陈瑞美, 陈秋, 等. 家庭因素与学龄前儿童情绪与行为问题的关联研究. 中华疾病控制杂志, 2019, 23(2): 168-171.
35. Tamis-Lemonda CS, Briggs RD, Mcclowry SG, et al. Maternal control and sensitivity, child gender, and maternal education in relation to children’s behavioral outcomes in African American families. J Appl Dev Psychol, 2009, 30(3): 321-331.

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Emotional and behavioral characteristics of firstborn children in transition to siblinghood: a systematic review

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