Child Outcomes Based on Family Composition

¶ … child can be influenced by many factors. Some of these include: race, social class and family composition. Each of these factors can directly affect how the child will grow into society and fill their role. Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate how these factors may affect a child. Although race and social class are highly important factors, this review will focus on the outcome of a child based on family composition.

Family composition includes many factors in it of itself. The number of children in a family, the birth order of the child in question, and the range of ages of the children in the family are all variables to be taken into consideration. Jung was one of the first to study birth order and its effects on a child. According to Adler, "Carl Jung, was one of the first theorists to suggest that birth order influences personality. He argued that birth order can leave an indelible impression on an individual's style of life, which is one's habitual way of dealing with the tasks of friendship, love, and work. According to Adler, firstborns are "dethroned" when a second child comes along, and this may have a lasting influence on them. Younger and only children may be pampered and spoiled, which can also affect their later personalities" (Adler, 1964). In most families with 3 or more children, the "middle child syndrome" is typically apparent in one child who feels they are not receiving enough attention from the parent(s) or guardian. This theory still holds merit today, and can be seen within families with multiple children all over the world.

As previously mentioned, the number of children in a family can also contribute to a child's outcome. Children from larger families tend to be well-adjusted, because they have grown up dealing with all types of personalities from early ages. Having more siblings can also cause high rates of competitiveness, this can either hurt or help the child later in life. A positive aspect is that larger families are able to have more of a support system. The children of bigger families are more helpful during difficult situations as they are more likely to be affected indirectly. A negative aspect of being in a larger family is that there seems to be a lack of fulfilled one on one attention (Montgomery, 2009).

An only child can have a much different experience than a child with siblings. Throughout scientific studies it has not been demonstrated that an only child will necessarily have issues adjusting and sharing. A study conducted by Adler found, "…no evidence of any maladjustment in only children. The most important finding was that only children are not very different from children with siblings. The main exception to this was the finding that only children are higher in achievement motivation" (Adler, 1964).

Age ranges of the children in larger families have a high impact on a child as well. If there is a gap of 5 or more years between children, it is almost an entirely new family unit than the older children. The oldest of the younger group effectively becomes the oldest child. This can affect how a child views their role and how they develop, since oldest children, as stated by Adler, usually tend toward being leaders and helpers.