First-born siblings are more likely to be successful
There’s a constant, sniping battle waging in most families. It’s usually taking place parallel to the fight over which child is the favourite, and it seems just as difficult to determine a winner: which child is smartest.
A study conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney and the University of Edinburgh, has shown that first-born children develop superior thinking skills compared to their younger siblings. This development, the researchers posit in the Journal of Human Resources, is a result of greater levels of mental stimulation from parents.
The study, carried out by economists, used data from the US Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which was collected by the US Bureau of Statistics. Their examinations showed that as early as age one, first-born children scored higher than their siblings in IQ tests.
The study assessed close to 5,000 children every two years – from pre-birth through until the age of 14. First-borns were shown to score better in a range of tests, including reading, names, picture vocabulary, matching letters, and reading single words aloud. While looking at the results of the tests, the researchers took into consideration environmental factors such as family background, economic conditions, as well as parental behaviours towards the children.
It was found that are less likely to offer mental stimulation to later-born children – including activities like reading, playing musical instruments, and craft. Researchers also showed that mothers tended to take higher risks during later pregnancies – risks like smoking while pregnant.
The results seem to explain the “birth order effect” – a phenomenon wherein a family’s earlier-born children earn better wages and achieve higher levels of education in their lifetime.
Interestingly, despite the imbalance in mental stimulation, the study concluded that the children received the same level of emotional support from their parents – no matter the order of birth.
Have you ever noticed a difference in the intelligence of your children?