Study: Siblings Can Grow Closer When Divorce Ends Parental Conflicts

A number of studies have examined how divorce affects relationships between parents and children, but less research has gone into how divorce can change the relationship between siblings. Now, one clinical psychologist is studying how brother and sister relationships can be altered when their parents end their marriage.

In some cases, initial research has shown, one sibling will deal with the divorce better than another and help the other sibling through the tough family time. In these instances, sibling relationships can grow and strengthen while the relationship between their parents comes to an end.

In other cases, however, one sibling may take their negative feelings out on another sibling through teasing and other abuse. In still other cases, one sibling may hide how they are feeling and isolate themselves from everyone, including their brothers and sisters.

The study also found that while siblings can grow closer during divorce, siblings who spend years in families with high-conflict marriages are often not as close with each other when they become adults.