Have a sister? Then chances are you had it easier during teen years according to a recent study in the August issue of Journal of Family Psychology. Researchers found having a sister meant having a confidante, it protected against delinquency and depression. Having a brother isn't a bad thing, it just guarantee this type of intimacy, Padilla-Walker noted.
Birth order and age between siblings didn't matter or make a difference statistically in this study.
   I have found this to be true in families in my clinical experience well. One of the questions I ask during the interview is how close are you to your brothers and sisters? Why? Was their normal rivalry or was there definite favoritism that caused divisions in the family. This is a fascinating and bothersome topic to me. I have been on both side, both the favored one and the hated one for no reason on my part, I should add. This is case with many of my clients as well who report who such unfair, cruel behavior I wonder why we don't test parents before releasing the children to them at the hospital at birth. On the supporting side of supportive family, having one buffers the hardest life experiences from disability to death of loved ones, to mental illness and physical disabilities.
Truly having a caring family member period is a huge blessing. Everyone of my clients has commented at least once in session-"Who's going to care when I die or I fail? So and so", naming a sibling and 95% its a sister. So call your sister tonight or email and tell how much you appreciate her love in your life. Till next time, Dr Lily out.