From attention-seekers to peace-makers, what your sibling birth order says about your personality

If you’ve got siblings, you’re probably more than aware of how different each of you are. Whether you’re the oldest, youngest or middle child, scientists are convinced that our rank within our families can determine our personality traits.

Of course, we all have our own opinion on the matter too – I’m the youngest and definitely think some of my selfishness and tendency to get my own way – because my parents gave up by the time it came to me – came from being the youngest daughter.

But what do the experts think? Here’s what we found.

The first-born child

According to a study by the University of Illinois, eldest siblings tended to be more extroverted, agreeable and conscientious.

The study also found that firstborn children tend to have a higher IQ than those born later – although it was only by a point or so.

Another study by the University of Essex, came to a similar conclusion, noting that the eldest child, especially if female, is statistically more likely to be the most ambitious and well-qualified of their family, as they tend to carry higher aspirations.

Sam Jahara, psychotherapist and co-founder of Brighton & Hove Psychotherapy, told GLAMOUR that some studies suggest that first-born children “enjoy a distinct advantage over their later-born counterparts in terms of educational attainment.” She said: “The level of attention that parents devote to firstborns is usually much higher, but these children will also be on the receiving end of their parent’s anxieties and the overwhelm of being new parents. Oldest children usually enjoy a period of exclusive attention. Being first gains a child some degree of status in the sibling hierarchy which remains even after their siblings come along.”

A study by YouGov, concluded that as older siblings were often left in charge or asked to look after younger siblings, “elder siblings are more likely to feel more organised and able to prioritise their own lives.”

Key characteristics of a first-born

• Extroverted
• Smart
• Ambitious
• Enjoy taking the lead
• Organised

The middle child

According to Jahara, middle children are usually more invested in getting on with others and negotiating for what they need due to being used to sharing resources with their siblings. She says: “Middle children have never known what it is like to have the parent’s exclusive attention, so they come into a world where they are expected to share from the start. Middle children are often called peace-keepers within the family. A middle child may also compete for attention due to their “middle status’ – they are neither the baby or the eldest so they will need to find a way to stand out.”

In the book The Secret Power Of Middle Children, Psychologist Catherine Salmon and journalist Katrin Schumann spoke about how middle children are often dubbed as neglected (we’ve all heard of ‘middle child syndrome.’) Speaking about their research to Psychologies, Schumann said: “Although middles are neglected, both by parents and researchers, they actually benefit from this in the long run. They become more independent, think outside the box, feel less pressure to conform, and are more empathetic.