Children Raising Siblings: Parentification in Adolescents

Year 2025, Volume: 58 Issue: 3, 1229 - 1278, 15.12.2025

Bedriye Çelik Kanca , Haktan Demircioğlu

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the levels of parentification among adolescents aged 14 to 18 in relation to various sociodemographic variables. In this context, the sample group consisted of 702 adolescents attending high schools in the Adapazarı district of Sakarya province. The study was designed using the survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. A sociodemographic information form developed by the researchers and the Short Form of the Parentification Scale for Adolescents were utilized. The results revealed significant differences in parentification scores among adolescents whose parents were divorced, whose parents had physical illnesses, who had siblings younger than six years old, whose mothers were employed, who had three or more siblings, who felt like a parent to their sibling(s), and who found themselves mediating when their parents argued.

Keywords

Parentification , sibling , adolescence , parenting

Kardeşlerini Büyüten Çocuklar: Ergenlerde Ebeveynleşme

Abstract

Bu çalışmada 14-18 yaş arasında yer alan ergenlerin bazı sosyodemografik değişkenler üzerinden ebeveynleşme düzeylerini incelemek amaçlanmıştır.. Bu kapsamda Sakarya ili Adapazarı ilçesinde lise öğrenimine devam eden 702 ergen çalışmanın örneklem grubunu oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden tarama modeline göre tasarlanmıştır. Çalışmada, araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan sosyodemografik bilgi formu ve ergenler için ebeveynleşme kısa formu kullanılmıştır. Sonuçta ebeveynleri boşanan, ebeveynlerinin fiziksel rahatsızlığı olan, altı yaşından küçük kardeşi olan, annesi çalışan, kardeş sayısı üç ve daha fazla olan, kendini kardeşinin ebeveyni gibi hisseden ve ebeveynleri tartıştığında orta yolu bulmak durumunda kalan ergenlerin ebeveynleşme düzeylerindeki puanlarda anlamlı farklılıklar görülmüştür.

Keywords

Ebeveynleşme , kardeş , ergenlik , ebeveynlik

References

• Beffel, J. H., & Nuttall, A. K. (2020). Influences of parentification and benefit finding on prosocial behavior among typically developing siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 104, 103694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103694
• Błażek, M. (2016). Parental attitudes and parentification of children in families with limited parental care competencies. Polish Journal of Applied Psychology, 14(3), 93-108. https://doi.org./10.1515/pjap-2015-0064
• Borchet, J., Lewandowska-Walter, A., & Rostowska, T. (2016). The Relationship between the experience of parentification and self-esteem among young adults. Polish Journal of Social Science, 11(1), 99-113. https://repozytorium.bg.ug.edu.pl/info/article/UOGeed4de130cd74fa28d4dce1361e49973/
• Borchet, J., Lewandowska-Walter, A., Połomski, P., Peplińska, A., & Hooper, L. M. (2020). We are in this together: Retrospective parentification, sibling relationships, and self-esteem. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 29, 2982-2991. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01723-3
• Boszormenyi-Nagy, I. & Spark, G. M. (1973). Invisible loyalties: Reciprocity in intergenerational family therapy. New York, NY: Harper & Row. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315825939
• Byrne, B. M. (2013). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Routledge. ISBN 9781138797031. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203805534
• Burton, L. (2007). Childhood adultification in economically disadvantaged families: A conceptual model. Family relations, 56(4), 329-345. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00463.x
• Burton, S., Hooper, L. M., Tomek, S., Cauley, B., Washington, A., & Pössel, P. (2018). The mediating effects of parentification on the relation between parenting behavior and well-being and depressive symptoms in early adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 4044-4059. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1215-0
• Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö. E., Karadeniz, Ş. ve Demirel, F. (2018). Eğitimde bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri.[Scientific research methods in education]. Pegem Akademi.
• Byng‐Hall, J. (2008). The significance of children fulfilling parental roles: Implications for family therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 30(2), 147-162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2008.00423.x
• Callaghan, J. E., Alexander, J. H., Sixsmith, J., & Fellin, L. C. (2016). Children’s experiences of domestic violence and abuse: Siblings’ accounts of relational coping. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 21(4), 649-668. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104515620250
• Chen, C. Y. C., & Panebianco, A. (2019). Physical and psychological conditions of parental chronic illness, parentification and adolescent psychological adjustment. Psychology & Health, 35(9), 1075-1094. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1699091
• Cook, J. L. ve Cook, G. (2009). Excerpt from child development principles and perspectives. Boston: Allon & Bacon.ISBN: 0-205-31411-2.
• Çarkoğlu, A. (2016). Türkiye’de toplumsal cinsiyet rollerinin ve kadının toplumdaki yerinin kamuoyundaki algısı araştırması. [Research on public perception of gender roles and women's place in society in Turkey]. Kadir Has Üniversitesi Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Kadın Araştırmaları Merkezi. İstanbul, Türkiye. https://www.khas.edu.tr/tr/haberler/turkiyede-toplumsal- cinsiyet-ve-kadin-algisi-arastirmasi-0
• Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. The Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139-152. http://dx.doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679190202
• Hazen, N., Jacobvitz, D., & McFarland, L. (2005). Antecedents of boundary disturbances in families with young children: Intergenerational transmission and parent-infant caregiving patterns. Journal of emotional abuse, 5(2-3), 85-110. https://doi.org/10.1300/J135v05n02_05
• Holder, M. K., & Blaustein, J. D. (2014). Puberty and adolescence as a time of vulnerability to stressors that alter neurobehavioral processes. Frontiers in neuroendocrinology, 35(1), 89-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.10.004
• Hooper, L. M. (2008). Defining and understanding parentification: Implications for all counselors. Alabama Counseling Association Journal, 34(1), 34-43.
• İplikçi, B. A & Şahin-Acar (2019). Kim ebeveyn? 12-yaş çocuklarının ebeveynleşme davranışlarını yordayan etkenler. [Who is a parent? Factors predicting parenting behaviors of 12-year-old children].Türk Psikoloji Dergisi. 34(84), 1–15 https://doi.org/10.31828/tpd1300443320180704m000007
• Johnson, B. E., & Ray, W. A. (2016). Family systems theory. Encyclopedia of family studies, 1-5. DOI:10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs130
• Jurkovic, G. J (1997). Lost childhoods: the plight of the parentified child. New York, NY: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315825762
• Jurkovic, G. J., Thirkield, A., & Morrell, R. (2001). Parentification of adult children of divorce: A multidimensional analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30(2), 245-257. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010349925974
• Karagöbek, B. A. (2014). The effect of maternal parentification history, maternal attachment styles, socioeconomic statues and children’s self-construal on parentification roles and perceived parental caregiving. Yayın No. 379987. [Master's Thesis, Middle East Technical University] Ankara. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
• Karataş, A., ve Kıran, B. (2023). Ebeveynleşme ve Bilişsel Esneklik Değişkenlerinin Ergenlerde Tükenmişliği Yordayıcılığının İncelenmesi. [Examining the Prediction of Parentification and Cognitive Flexibility Variables on Burnout in Adolescents]. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 19(3), 324-341. https://doi.org/10.17860/mersinefd.1227280
• Karataş, A., Uzun, N. B., & Gündüz, B. (2022). Parentification Scale Adolescent Form: A Validity and Reliability Study. Journal of the Institute of Social Sciences, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, 19(50), 167-182. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/hmkusbed/issue/74491/1200449
• Khafi, T. Y., Yates, T. M., & Luthar, S. S. (2014). Ethnic differences in the developmental significance of parentification. Family Process, 53(2), 267-287. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12072
• Lewandowska-Walter, A., Borchet, J., Rostowska, T., Połomski, P., & Peplińska, A. (2017). Parentification and coping in polish adolescents. Polish Journal of Social Science, 12(1) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325386504_Parentification_and_coping_in_polish_adolescents
• Masiran, R., Ibrahim, N., Awang, H., & Lim, P. Y. (2023). The positive and negative aspects of parentification: An integrated review. Children and Youth Services Review, 144, 106709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106709
• MEB(2022). 2022 ilk yerleştirme taban tavan yerleşme bilgileri. 10.07.2023 tarihinde https://www.meb.gov.tr/meb_iys_dosyalar/2022_07/25103752_2022_ilk_yerlestirme_taban_tavan_yerlesme_bilgileri.pdf
• Özbiler, S. (2022). Elkin, E., Beycan Ekitli. G.,(Ed.) Anneler ve Kızları [Mothers and Daughters ]içinde (s.209-226). Ege Üniversitesi Yayınları.
• Perrin, M. B., Ehrenberg, M. F., & Hunter, M. A. (2013). Boundary diffusion, individuation, and adjustment: Comparison of young adults raised in divorced versus intact families. Family Relations, 62(5), 768-782. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12040
• Połomski, P., Peplińska, A., Lewandowska-Walter, A., & Borchet, J. (2021). Exploring resiliency and parentification in Polish adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), 11454. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111454
• Schleider, J. L., & Weisz, J. R. (2017). Family process and youth internalizing problems: A triadic model of etiology and intervention. Development and psychopathology, 29(1), 273-301. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095457941600016X
• Shute, R. H., & Slee, P. T. (2015). Child development: Theories and critical perspectives. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315767987
• Şenol, D., & Çalar, V. (2018). Toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamında Batman’da erkek olmak.[Being a man in Batman in the context of gender]. Toplum ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi, (1), 1-16. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jscs/issue/49686/637011 adresinden 11.10.2024 tarihinden erişilmiştir
• Tabachnick, B. G. & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics (Sixth Edition). USA: Pearson Education Limited.
• Tedgard, E., Råstam, M., & Wirtberg, I. (2019). An upbringing with substance-abusing parents: Experiences of parentification and dysfunctional communication. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 36(3), 223-247. https://doi.org/10.1177/1455072518814308
• Zagefka, H., Jones, J., Caglar, A., Girish, R., & Matos, C. (2021). Family roles, family dysfunction, and depressive symptoms. The Family Journal, 29(3), 346-353. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480720973418
• Żarczyńska-Hyla, J., Zdaniuk, B., Piechnik-Borusowska, J., & Kromolicka, B. (2019). Parentification in the experience of polish adolescents. The role of socio-demographic factors and emotional consequences for parentified youth. The New Educational Review, 55, 135-146. https://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.ojs-doi-10_15804_tner_2019_55_1_11
• Wang, M., Liu, S., & Belsky, J. (2017). Triangulation processes experienced by children in contemporary China. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 41(6), 688-695. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025416662345