your big sister may help buffer the effects of stress

the study , from scientists from several universities and research institutions based in leipzig, germany, tested 373 pairs of mothers and their children, from pregnancy until the child turned 10. the mothers were asked to rate both their stress levels and their child’s behaviour, which researchers then examined to determine patterns.

socio-environmental conditions play a role in stress

they found that socio-environmental conditions, such as a lack of facilities like playgrounds or places where children could play or socialize, had a big part in the stress experienced by pregnant women. people worried about their income or ability to provide for their family were more likely than people who felt secure in their financial future to feel anxious — and that anxiety during pregnancy had tangible effects on their child’s development, even if those results don’t show up for several years. in fact, a 2019 study found that that a mother’s stress level can negatively impact a child in utero even before that child is conceived, via stress hormones and inflammation of the placenta, among other physical impacts.

the ‘buffering’ function of older siblings

the good news, though, is that solid relationships with older siblings has a “protective” effect against some of the damage caused by parental stress. “the presence of older siblings overall reduced the likelihood that younger siblings developed behaviour problems during childhood,” the researchers found.

older sisters seem to provide the most “protective” function against the impacts of stress, researchers suggest, as previous studies have found that they’re more likely to engage in caretaking behaviour towards their younger siblings than older brothers. boys, too, were more likely to have behavioural problems than girls.