Sibling Number, Sibling Composition, and Subjective Well-Being

Luye Zhang

doi:10.54691/b6aqxt22

Authors

Luye Zhang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/b6aqxt22

Keywords:

Siblings; subjective well-being; Resource Dilution Theory; Sibling Interaction Theory; ordered logistic regression.

Abstract

Drawing on data from the 2010 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study examines the effects of the number of siblings and sibling composition on individuals' subjective well-being, as well as gender heterogeneity in these associations, through the competing perspectives of Resource Dilution Theory and Sibling Interaction Theory, using ordered logistic regression models. The results show that: First, the number of siblings is significantly and negatively associated with subjective well-being. Each additional sibling decreases the probability of reporting being "happy" or "very happy" by approximately 1 percentage point. Second, the association between sibling composition and subjective well-being varies systematically by biological relatedness. Full siblings exhibit the strongest negative association with subjective well-being, followed by half-siblings, whereas stepsiblings have no statistically significant association. Third, substantial gender heterogeneity is observed in the association between sibling composition and subjective well-being. Men are more sensitive than women to differences in biological relatedness, and only among men does the presence of younger siblings significantly reduce subjective well-being. Emotional support partially offsets the resource dilution effect among women, whereas men appear to be more strongly constrained by hierarchical family norms emphasizing seniority and birth order. This study further explores the mechanisms through which sibling composition and biological relatedness shape individuals' subjective well-being.

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