[Voodoo Vince]

Second-born children really are more rebellious, study confirms

Second-born children are more likely to be rebellious in later life than their more conservative older siblings, according to research.

By Alastair Jamieson
Last Updated: 10:20AM BST 29 Apr 2009

Scientists have found firstborn children are likely to conform while younger siblings are prone to more independent personalities, confirming what generations of parents have long suspected.

Their study, published in the journal Child Development, adds to growing evidence that birth order plays a crucial role in developing a child's personality.

Based on personality profiles of more than 360 children, it also highlights how boys start off with similar profiles to girls but become less warm and sensitive in their early teens.

Researchers, at the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Purdue University, interviewed 364 children in the United States between the ages of seven and 19 and their parents.

They also took saliva samples to measure testosterone levels and asked the children to keep a diary of their activities outside school.

A spokesman for the researchers told the Daily Mail: "Second-born children showed increases in traits like adventurousness and independence across adolescence, whereas in firstborns, these traits did not change much over time.

"These findings are consistent with the idea that firstborns conform more, while second-borns are more likely to rebel."

Girls who spent time with other girls developed more feminine characteristics while boys became more masculine if they played with other boys, the study found. However, both boys and girls appeared to benefit from having female friends, becoming more adventurous and independent if they played with girls.

It also found children who showed faster rates of increase in the hormone testosterone in early adolescence were not as affected by social influences on their personality development.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencean...-confirms.html

[minjia]

im e 2nd child of my family...

"Girls who spent time with other girls developed more feminine characteristics while boys became more masculine if they played with other boys, the study found. However, both boys and girls appeared to benefit from having female friends, becoming more adventurous and independent if they played with girls."

dat quote is common to everyone? not for first/second born child?

imo. the independence depends on how ur parents raise you as a kid :x

[xDarkJo]

"These findings are consistent with the idea that firstborns conform more, while second-borns are more likely to rebel."

i am the 1st child. i think i am the rebel one & my younger bro is the guai guai type...

[Peuan Sanit]

Originally Posted by xDarkJo

"These findings are consistent with the idea that firstborns conform more, while second-borns are more likely to rebel."

i am the 1st child. i think i am the rebel one & my younger bro is the guai guai type...

I disagreed with the findings!

My first daugther is an ANGEL in school but a DEVIL at home. She is hot temper and rebellious at home. Whereas my 2nd daughter is more goody two shoes both at school and at home.

[reddemonex]

Imagine psychologist asking you, "Are you first born, middle etc"?

[lovewendy]

quite true. im the 2nd child.

was extremely perfect student and kid when i was young. didnt had any rebellious stage.
but nw abit aloof towards family.