The Health Benefits of Having a Sister

“Sister is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.” ~ Margaret Mead

If you grew up with at least one sister, you are generally a happier and more balanced adult than if you had grown up without a female sibling in the family. These are the findings of a London survey presented to The British Psychological Society.

“Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families … Emotional expression is fundamental to good psychological health and having sisters promotes this in families,” says Professor Tony Cassidy of Ulster’s School of Psychology.

Cassidy, who conducted the study of 571 participants between the ages of 17 and 25, found that people who grew up without a sister tend to be more distressed. Siblings who grew up with at least one sister generally scored higher on a range of tests for good mental health.

Growing up with a sister is proven to boost an individual’s mental health. If you grew up with at least one sister, you are more likely to:

1. express your emotions in a healthy way;
2. possess good communications skills with others; and
3. be more apt to recover quickly from bouts of depression and loneliness.

It is worth noting that the benefits of having a sister start to present themselves as siblings get older. Sibling rivalry is alive and well during the younger years.

So, if you have at least one sister, give her a hug! Odds are that she has provided you with better social support, more optimism, and better coping abilities than if you had grown up without her.