Most siblings have argued over who had it hardest growing up. Now, scientists can finally settle the debate: research confirms parents are indeed more lenient with later-born children.
Study Findings on Birth Order and Parenting
A study by Monash University found that later-born children spend less time on enrichment activities and more on social media compared to first-borns. This is likely because they face fewer strict rules and expectations. The research, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organisation, notes that the increase in digital media time for later-born children is largely driven by solitary activities. One possible explanation is that parents become more lenient with later-born children, being less likely to enforce rules around TV and video games. Later-born children themselves perceive lower expectations to follow rules.
This pattern is reflected in popular culture, such as the Bridgerton family, where first-born Anthony bears heavy responsibility while younger brother Benedict pursues art freely.
Data and Methodology
The team examined data on about 5,000 children aged 2 to 15. Time use was recorded by parents for younger children, while those over 10 completed their own diaries over 24 hours. Activities were grouped into seven categories: sleep, school, enrichment, physical, social, digital media, and general care. Enrichment included homework, reading, music, and board games; digital media covered TV, video games, internet, and social media.
Results showed that second and third-born children spend 9 to 14 minutes more daily on screens compared to first-borns. The researchers wrote, 'We find that parents become more lenient with rules for later-born children when they are older, which corresponds with older later-born children spending more time with digital media.'
Consistency with Previous Research
The findings align with a 2015 study that found later-born children experience less strict supervision regarding homework and TV rules. That study also concluded that parents are less likely to punish later-born children for bad grades.
Gender and Sibling Order Effects
Among second-born girls, the gender of their older sibling influences parental expectations. If the older sibling is a boy, no difference in rule expectations is noted. But if the older sibling is also a girl, second-born girls perceive lower expectations to follow family rules.
Broader Context: Only Children
A 2017 MRI study from Southwest University in China found that only children have different brain structures, making them more creative but less agreeable. They have extra grey matter in the supramarginal gyrus, linked to creativity, and less in the medial prefrontal cortex, affecting agreeableness. Researchers examined 270 college students and found clear rises in creativity and falls in agreeableness among only children.
In conclusion, the Monash study confirms that parental leniency increases with later-born children, leading to more digital media use. This research provides scientific backing to long-held beliefs about birth order effects.
