Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Short Form of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ-SF) in Emerging Adults

Abstract

A growing area of research examines the role of siblings in the family system, yet little is known about the characteristics of sibling relationships during emerging adulthood in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Turkish adaptation of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire-Short Form (ASRQ-SF). The study also examines the role of gender dynamics in Turkish emerging adult sibling relationships. The sample was comprised of 406 emerging adults (287 female and 119 male) aged between 18 and 25 who had at least one sibling and who were continuing their education at university. The construct validity of the ASRQ-SF was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results confirmed the three-dimensional structure (warmth, conflict and rivalry) in the target sample. In the reliability study, internal consistency coefficients were determined to be .94 for warmth, .90 for conflict, and .91 for rivalry dimensions. Furthermore, gender-based results in the study showed that there was more warmth in sister-sister dyads. The findings of this study show that the ASRQ-SF is both a reliable and valid measurement tool that can be used to evaluate sibling relationship characteristics in Turkish emerging adults.

Keywords

• sibling relationship
• validity
• reliability
• emerging adults
• Turkey

References

1. Aquilino, W. S. (2006). Family relationships and support systems in emerging adulthood. In J. J. Arnett, & J. L. Tanner (Eds.), Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century. American Psychological Association.
2. Aldrich, L., Nomaguchi, K., & Fettro, M. N. (2021). Life course statuses and sibling relationship quality during emerging adulthood. Journal of Family Issues, 43(5), 1235-1262. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X211022401
3. Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55(5), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.5.469.
4. Arnett, J. J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties. Oxford University Press.
5. Arnett, J. J., & Tanner, J. (Eds.). (2005). Emerging adults in America: Coming of age in the 21st century (1st ed.). American Psychological Association
6. Atak, H. & Çok, F. (2010). A new period in human life: Emerging adulthood. Journal of Childhood and Adolescence Mental Health,17(1), 39-50
7. Aytaç-Bakkaloğlu, M. (2021). Change and continuity in sibling relationships from childhood to emerging adulthood: A qualitative study. [Unpublished master dissertation]. İstanbul Bilgi University, Graduate School of Clinical Psychology.
8. Bell, D. C., & Bell, L. G. (2018). Accuracy of retrospective reports of family environment. Journal of Child Family Studies. 27(4), 1029–1040. http://doi:10.1007/s10826-017-0948-5

9. Brody, G. H. (2004). Siblings' direct and indirect contributions to child development. Current directions in psychological science, 13(3), 124-126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.00289.x
10. Buhrmester, D., & Furman, W. (1990). Perceptions of sibling relationships during middle childhood and adolescence. Child development, 61(5), 1387-1398. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1990.tb02869.x
11. Cassinat, J. R., & Jensen, A. C. (2020). Following in your sibling’s steps: Sibling influence and young adults’ marital attitudes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(3), 885–905. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519881511
12. Cicirelli, V. G. (1995). Sibling relationships across the life span. Plenum Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-6509-0
13. Cilalı, B., Erdur-Baker, O., & Bugay, A. (2019). The reliability and validity of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale in a Turkish Emerging Adult Sample. Studia Psychologica, 61(1),17-30, https://doi.org/10.21909/sp.2019.01.769
14. Cinalioğlu, E. A., & Gazioğlu, E. İ. (2022). Psychological well-being in emerging adulthood: The role of loneliness, social support, and sibling relationships in Turkey. Canadian Journal of Family and Youth/Le Journal Canadien de Famille et de la Jeunesse, 14(1), 102-123. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjfy29753
15. Con, G., Suitor, J. J., Rurka, M., & Gilligan, M. (2019). Adult children’s perceptions of maternal favoritism during caregiving: Comparisons between Turkey and the United States. Research on Aging, 41(2), 139– 163. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027518785407
16. Conger, K. J., & Little, W. M. (2010). Sibling relationships during the transition to adulthood. Child Development Perspectives, 4(2), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-8606.2010.00123.x
17. Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: Four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical assessment, research, and evaluation, 10,1-9 https://doi.org/10.7275/jyj1-4868
18. Doğan, A., & Cebioğlu, S. (2011). Emerging adulthood: A period between adolescence and adulthood. Turkish Psychological Articles, 14(28), 22-23.
19. Doughty, S. E., McHale, S. M., & Feinberg, M. E. (2013). Sibling experiences as predictors of romantic relationship qualities in adolescence. Journal of Family Issues, 36(5), 589-608. https://doi:10.1177/0192513X13495397.
20. Finan, L. J., Ohannessian, C. M., & Gordon, M. S. (2018). Trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to emerging adulthood: The influence of parents, peers, and siblings. Developmental Psychology, 54(8), 1555–1567. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000543
21. Geerts-Perry, A. T., Riggs, S. A., Kaminski, P. L., & Murrell, A. (2021). Psychological well-being and family functioning in middle childhood: The unique role of sibling relational dynamics. Journal of Family Issues, 42(12), 2965-2985. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X219931
22. Graham-Bermann, S. A., & Cutler, S. E. (1994). The Brother-Sister Questionnaire: Psychometric assessment and discrimination of well-functioning from dysfunctional relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(2), 224. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.8.2.224
23. Greer, K. B., Campione-Barr, N., & Lindell, A. K. (2015). Body talk: Siblings’ use of positive and negative body self-disclosure and associations with sibling relationship quality and bodyesteem. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(8), 1567–1579. https://doi:10.1007/s10964-014-0180-1
24. Gungordu, N., & Hernandez-Reif, M. (2022) Sibling relationship dynamics relate to young adults' empathic responding, Journal of Family Studies, 28(2), 785-799, https://doi:10.1080/13229400.2020.1753560
25. Hamwey, M. K., Rolan, E. P., Jensen, A. C., & Whiteman, S. D. (2019). “Absence makes the heart grow fonder”: A qualitative examination of sibling relationships during emerging adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(8), 2487–2506. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518789514
26. Hamwey, M. K., & Whiteman, S. D. (2021). Jealousy links comparisons with siblings to adjustment among emerging adults. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 70(2), 483–497. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12428
27. Heyeres, U. (2006). Adult sibling relationship questionnaire. Gruppendynamik und Organisationsberatung, 37(2), 215-225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11612-006-0023-y
28. Hu, L.T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118
29. Imamoglu, E. O., Küller, R., Imamoglu, V., & Küller, M. (1993). The social psychological worlds of Swedes and Turks in and around retirement. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 24(1), 26-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022193241002
30. Jang, H. S. (2009). Sibling relations, personality traits and psychopathological symptoms in college students. The Korean Journal of Developmental Psychology, 22(3), 33-48.
31. Jeong, H. S., Jeong, E. J., Yu, S. Y., Lyoo, Y. C., Im, J. J., Bae, S., & Kim, J. E. (2013). Reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale. Experimental Neurobiology, 22(4), 330–336. https://doi.org:10.5607/en.2013.22.4. 330
32. Jensen, A. C., Hamwey, M. K., Parkinson, C., Dayley, J. C., & Whiteman, S. D. (2023a). The Emerging Adults’ Relationships with Siblings Scale: Development and Validation. Emerging Adulthood, 11(1), 32-47.
33. Jensen, A. C., Killoren, S. E., Campione-Barr, N., Padilla, J., & Chen, B. B. (2023b). Sibling relationships in adolescence and young adulthood in multiple contexts: A critical review. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(2), 384-419. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221104188
34. Jensen, A. C., Whiteman, S. D., & Fingerman, K. L. (2018). Can’t live with or without them: Transitions and young adults’ perceptions of sibling relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(3), 385. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000361
35. Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2007). Family, Self, and Human Development Across Cultures, Theory and Applications (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
36. Kağıtçıbaşı, Ç. (2000). Kültürel psikoloji: Kültür bağlamında insan ve aile. Evrim Yayınevi.
37. Kagitcibasi, C. (2013). Autonomous-Related Self. In Family, self, and human development across cultures: Theory and applications (pp.165-207). NJ: Erlbaum.
38. Lindell, A. K., & Campione‐Barr, N. (2017). Relative power in sibling relationships across adolescence. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2017(156), 49-66.
39. Kara, D., Bauer, P. J., & Şahin-Acar, B. (2023). Transitions and transformations in sibling relationships: Characteristics of Turkish and US young adults’ sibling-related turning-point memories. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(2), 459-482. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221116793
40. McHale, S. M., Updegraff, K. A., & Whiteman, S. D. (2012). Sibling relationships and influences in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(5), 913–930. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.01011.x
41. Milevsky, A. (2019). Parental Factors, psychological well-Being, and sibling dynamics: A Mediational model in emerging adulthood. Marriage & Family Review, 55(5), 476-492, https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2018.1518822
42. Milevsky, A., & Heerwagen, M. (2013). A phenomenological examination of sibling relationships in emerging adulthood. Marriage & Family Review, 49(3), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 01494929.2012.762444
43. Milevsky, A., Smoot, K., Leh, M., & Ruppe, A. (2005). Familial and contextual variables and the nature of sibling relationships in emerging adulthood. Marriage and Family Review. 37(4), 123–141. https://doi.org/10.1300/J002v37n04_07
44. Ozbay, Y., & Aydoğan, D. (2019). Losing childhood along with the father: Father loss, sibling relationships and family resilience, Erzincan University Journal Education Faculty, 21(2), 126-143. https://doi:10.17556/erziefd.453746
45. Ozbay, Y., & Aydogan, D. (2020). Cumulative risk factors and family relationship quality in understanding Turkish emerging adults’ resilience. Journal of Adult Development, 27(2), 95-107. https://doi:10.1007/s10804-019-09344-x
46. Oz-Soysal, F. S.., Yurdabakan, İ., Baş, A. U., & Aysan, F. (2016).Yaşam Boyu Kardeş İlişkileri Ölçeğinin genç yetişkinlerde geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Journal of Human Sciences, 13(3), 5351-5361. https://doi:10.14687/jhs.v13i3.3971
47. Plamondon, A., Bouchard, G., & Lachance-Grzela, M. (2021). Family dynamics and young adults’ well-being: The mediating role of sibling bullying. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 36(9-10), 5362–5384. https://doi:10.1177/0886260518800313
48. Plesis, L., Wilquin, H., Pavani, J.B., & Bouteyre, E. (2020). Explaining differences between sibling relationships in schizophrenia and nonclinical sibling relationships. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00321
49. Ponti, L., & Smorti, M. (2020). Normative and nonnormative pattern in achievement of developmental tasks: Sibling relationship quality and life satisfaction during emerging adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(7), 2307-2322. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407520923034
50. Portner, L. C., & Riggs, S. A. (2016). Sibling relationships in emerging adulthood: Associations with parent–child relationship. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(6), 1755-1764. https://doi:10.1007/s10826-015-0358-5
51. Riggio, H. R. (2000). Measuring attitudes toward adult sibling relationships: The lifespan sibling relationship scale. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17(6), 707-728. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407500176001
52. Scharf, M., Shulman, S., & Avigad-Spitz, L. (2005). Sibling relationships in emerging adulthood and in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Research, 20(1), 64-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558404271133
53. Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. Methods of Psychological Research Online, 8(2), 23-74. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003-08119-003
54. Schumacker, RE., & Lomax RG. (1996). A beginner’s guide to structural equation modeling. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
55. Siyez, D. M., Esen, E., Seymenler, S., & Öztürk, B. (2020). Development of wellness scale for emerging adults: Validity and reliability study. Current Psychology, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00672-w.
56. Sommantico, M., Donizzetti, A. R., De Rosa, B., & Parrello, S. (2019). Young adults' sibling relationships: Italian adaptation and validation of the Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(2), 659–680.
57. Sommantico, M., Parrello, S., & De Rosa, B. (2020). Adult siblings of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities: Sibling relationship attitudes and psychosocial outcomes. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 99, 103594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103594.
58. Stewart, R. B., Kozak, A. L., Tingley, L. M., Goddard, J. M., Blake, E. M., & Cassel, W. A. (2001). Adult sibling relationships: Validation of a typology. Personal Relationships, 8(3), 299-324. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2001.tb00042.x
59. Stocker, C. M., Lanthier, R. P., & Furman, W. (1997). Sibling relationships in early adulthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 11(2), 210–221. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.11.2.210
60. Stocker, C. M., Gilligan, M., Klopack, E. T., Conger, K. J., Lanthier, R. P., Neppl, T. K., O’Neal, C., W., & Wickrama, K. A. S. (2020). Sibling relationships in older adulthood: links with loneliness and well-being. Journal of Family Psychology, 34(2), 175-185. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000586
61. Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2): development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316. https://doi:10.1177/019251396017003001.
62. Şahin, Z.B. (2017). The role of adult sibling relationship quality on career decision self-efficacy among university students. (Master Thesis). Middle East Technical University.
63. Tani, F., Guarnieri, S., & Ingoglia, S. (2013). The Italian adaptation and validation of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ) in Italian emerging adults. Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 20(1), 47-67. https://doi:10.4473/TPM20.1.4
64. Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using multivariate statistics (Sixth edition). Pearson Education. Tavşancıl, E. (2005). Tutumların ölçülmesi ve spss ile veri analizi. Nobel Yayınları
65. Tucker, C. J., Sharp, E. H., van Gundy, K. T., & Rebellon, C. (2019). Perpetration of sibling aggression and sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood. Personal Relationships. 26, 529–539. https://doi:10.1111/pere.12288
66. Walęcka-Matyja, K. (2016). The Polish short version of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ-SF): Preliminary report. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 13(2), 89–103.
67. Wallace, E. (2012). The sibling relationship: Friendship or rivalry. (Master of thesis), Dublin Institute of Technology.
68. Warner, D. A. (2017). Sibling relationships and college decision-making: An Exploratory study of first-generation and non-first-generation students. (Master of thesis), Oregon State University.
69. Weaver, S. E., Coleman, M., & Ganong, L. H. (2003). The sibling relationship in young adulthood. Journal of Family Issues, 24(2), 245–263. https://doi:10.1177/0192513x02250098