1.
Shulan Jiao, Guiping Ji and Qicheng Jing (C. C. Ching) "Comparative Study of Behavioral Qualities of Only Children and Sibling Children." Child Development, Vol. 57, No. 2 (Apr., 1986), pp. 357-361 |
This scientific study compared only-children behavioral qualities to those of children with siblings. The study used a match-pairs method, and accesses qualities like independent thinking, behavior control, persistence with a task, and social behavior (egocentrism, peer like-ability, and cooperation). The children were aged 9-10 which is a cofounder for my use of the study since I am looking at college age adolescence, however I think the natural tendencies displayed at a young age are important in later adolescence development of values, so the study is still very applicable to my autoethnography. The study found significant differences, p-value of less than 0.05, between only children and those with siblings in independent thinking, persistence, frustration proneness, behavior control, and all social behavior categories. In most of the qualities the children with siblings mastered better than only- children. The only category the only's performed better in was frustration proneness and egocentrism. In college transition a person has to deal with others more intimately and therefore cooperation and peer like-ability are among the most important qualities to be considered. These qualities are enhanced by the presence of siblings.
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2.
"The first year: a guide for parents and families of incoming Emory students." Office of residence life and housing- Emory University. (July, 2008). http://www.emory.edu/HOUSING/FORMS/PDFs/FirstYear_08.pdf |
This reference is the brochure that Emory published in 2008 to help guide families and students through the first year moving process. One of the main sections of the paper is on roommates, and making the roommate relationship a healthy one. This is a large component of the transition to college. It is the first time for many living with someone not related to oneself. Some of the tips include knowing and expressing ones values from the start, but also realizing that a good relationship requires compromise.
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3."Central College - Making the Transition." Central College. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://www.central.edu/parents/advice/making-the-transition/>.
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In this review by a college a student speaks out on their view of the transition. The student mentioned for her the hardest part was not meeting people or roommate issues, but rather getting oneself in a routine and reaching out to people for help. In the past living at home one's schedule is influenced a lot by others and therefore pre-set, however at college it is more independent and variable for each person. Finding the best schedule to balance everything you want is a learning curve. The student also mentioned that previously parents were always the go-to for questions, but there are many times that a parent can not help you out anymore, so knowing who to speak to can be a challenge.
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4."The Adolescent Only Child." Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/200907/the-adolescent-only-child>.
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This blog is a review by a psychistarist on counseling only- children families and her perceptions compared to families with multiple children. She makes comments with hesitation since she is talking about tendencies and not certainties. First both the child and the parents try to more so to do right for each other, since the parent is more deliberate in parenting and the child feels a comparable pull to perform. Secondly since the child has unlimited access to parents and they are their main companions for much of their life, only-children develop precocious verbal and social tendencies. As adolescents only children tend:
"To have and pursue a strong sense of personal agenda for themselves and be independent in that way"- good at making schedules since prefer order and constancy "To be uncomfortable with conflict from not having the rough and tumble, push and shove competition with siblings, or much serious disharmony with parents"- there is a potential for roommate conflicts |
5.
Eischens, Alissa D. "The Dilemma of the Only Child." Northwestern University. (June 1998). http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/eischens2.html |
This paper examined the life of growing up as an only child and the social implications of this life style. Since only children grow up without the immediate access to children there own age to interact with, they have to work to win friends since family does not provide practice social settings. Thus only children are in a dilemma when it comes to developing personality. There environment forces them to act out of their natural tendencies in order to function normally. This leads to commonly seen adult qualities of only children- comfort with being a loner and leading the activities one is involved in. "Excessive sensitivity, hypochondria, or trouble expressing anger" (Brophy, 1989, p. 55), qualities prone in only-children, could be attributed to this internal struggle for personality.
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