1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« Study 1 investigated how maternal context influenced the frequency and the quality of constructive or destructive sibling conflict, specifically dispute issues, resolution strategies, and aggression in middle childhood. » (p. 189)
« Study 2 addressed the stability of sibling and maternal interaction over a four-year period and ascertained how sibling conflict at time 3 was associated with interaction at time 1 and 2. » (p. 190)

Questions/Hypothèses :
Study 1 : « We predicted that maternal presence would decrease the frequency of overall conflict and aggression, whereas when mothers were not present to exert either implicit or explicit control, we expected that siblings would be freer to (1) engage in disputes, (2) be aggressive and (3) employ adversial resolutions. » (p. 189)
Study 2 : « [...] [W]e expected that sibling interaction, specifically sibling conflict and references to internal states at time 1 and conflict at time 2, would be positively related to time 3 conflict and aggression. Mothers were predicted to demonstrate consistency in interaction over the three times. » (p. 190

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« Participants included 32 sibling dyads and their mothers from Caucasian, English-speaking, two-parent families living in a southern Ontario city who were studied at three points in time over a four-year period.»

Instruments :
Study 1
- A wooden farm set to assemble and play with.
- Modified version of DeHart’s (1999) scheme to assess the frequency and quality of sibling conflict.
- Scale to rate maternal interaction, adapted from Stocker, Dunn, Plomin, 1989.
Study 2
- T1: three sibling behavior were code (based on Dunn & Kendrick, 1982)
- T2: ratings of sibling cooperation, rivalry, and maternal interaction were based on 5-point scales (adapted from Stocker et al., 1989)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« Two issues relevant to relationships models of development were investigated: (1) the influence of maternal context (present, absent) on frequency and types of conflicts of 24 sibling dyads in middle childhood and (2) the stability of maternal and sibling interaction over four years. Maternal presence depressed conflict frequency and aggression; in maternal absence, siblings disagreed about abstract (i.e., procedures/play plans) and concrete (i.e., object) issues and used relatively sophisticated resolutions. Longitudinal findings revealed that earlier patterns of family interaction were related to later indices of sibling conflict and maternal interaction. Specifically, (1) earlier rates of sibling play and hostile interaction were related to sibling conflicts, (2) greater maternal interaction was associated with later sibling conflict, and (3) greater sibling interaction was related to less maternal interaction over time. Findings are discussed in light of recent literature on sibling conflict and the development of social understanding within the context of close relationships. » (p. 183)