The first book to gather studies on siblings from diverse areas of research, Sibling Relationships across the Life Span examines the course of the sibling relationship from childhood to the end of life. Author Victor Cicirelli outlines the factors that influence the sibling relationship, considering the sibling dyad alone, as well as in relation to a larger kinship. He provides information gleaned from studies of stepsiblings wherever possible. Chapter highlights include a broad framework for viewing sibling research, including the kin rather than the family network, the total life span rather than segments of it, and the development and aging of relationships; new insights into sibling interactions through the study of a family with nine adult siblings, their spouses, and their elderly parents and an integration of research on siblings in the first part of the life span (childhood and adolescence) with that on the latter part (adulthood and old age). This comprehensive volume also encompasses a discussion of methodological problems confronting the sibling researcher; cross-cultural evidence for the universality of the sibling relationship; sibling-helping relationships; and special aspects of sibling relationships, including chronic illness and disabilities, conflict, violence and abuse, incest and sexual abuse, death, and sibling therapy.

When one begins to examine the existing literature dealing with siblings, one soon becomes aware that many separate domains of sibling research exist and that there is little connection between them; for example, sibling relationships in early childhood, genetic and environmental influences on individual differences between siblings, dysfunctional sibling relation ships, adult sibling helping relationships, sibling violence and abuse, and so on. The author's aim in writing this book was to attempt to bring together for the first time studies from diverse areas of sibling research into a single volume. The book is a summary and integration of the various domains of sibling studies, extending across the life span where studies exist to make this possible. Although many gaps in the sibling research literature within and between domains of study and over the life span still exist, it is hoped that this book will motivate others to help fill in the gaps by suggesting direc tions where further research is needed.