Monkey See, Monkey Do: Sibling Influence on Adolescent Risk Taking Penelope Scow Adolescent Risk Taking (Psych 4900) Weber State University

INTRODUCTION Do siblings have an influence on each other’s participation in risk taking? Are the influences biological? Are the influences environmental? Or is it a combination of both? Three studies are reviewed that demonstrate the influence that siblings might have on each other Stallings et al. (1999) and Hans et al. (1999) look at the genetic influences. East & Khoo (2005) display the specific relational qualities.

Stallings et al. (1999) Stallings et al. (1999) examine environmental and genetic factors influencing both the onset of alcohol/tobacco use and the latency between first and regular use twin pairs (50-96 yrs.) completed questionnaires, retrospectively. Shared environmental factors appear to be more influential to risk taking than do genetics.

Han, McGue, & Iacono (1999) Han, McGue, & Iacono examined the extent to which genetics and shared environmental factors contribute to substance use. 501 twin pairs (17-18 yrs.) took a computerized questionnaire regarding the use or non-use of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. Similar to the Stallings et al. (1999) findings, this study found that shared environmental factors played a bigger role in adolescent risk taking than did genetics.

East & Khoo (2005) East & Khoo (2005) examined certain relationship qualities that may predict adolescent substance use and risky sexual behaviors. 227 Latino and Black families participated in a 5 yr. longitudinal study. All older siblings were female (15-19 yrs) and 112 were mothers themselves. Specific aspects of the sibling relationship did mediate younger sibling’s risk taking behavior.

CONCLUSION While genetics play a small role, it seems that shared environmental factors and relationship characteristics play a much bigger role. Single parent household, warmth/closeness and conflict levels of the sibling relationship, and older sister’s involvement in the risks influence adolescent risk taking. FUTURE STUDY Might examine how the five different types of sibling relationships may produce an effect on adolescent risk taking.

REFERENCES East, P., & Khoo, S. (2005) Longitudinal Pathways Linking Family Factors and Sibling Relationship Qualities to Adolescent Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors. Journal of Family Psychology, 19 (4), Han, C., McGue, M., & Iacono, W. (1999) Lifetime tobacco, alcohol, and other substance use in adolescent Minnesota twins: univariate and multivariate behavioral genetic analyses. Addiction, 94 (7), Stallings, M., Hewitt, J., Beresford, T., Heath, A., & Eaves, L. (1999) A Twin Study of Drinking and Smoking Onset and Latencies from First Use to Regular Use. Behavior Genetics, 29 (6),