This synthetic literature review examines the characteristics of sibling configurations— which refer to the ordinal position of siblings, age spacing, and sex composition—in a traditional family setting. A general review of the literature on sibling configurations and relationships is presented, and their potential roles in the development of personality traits, self-concept and identity, and career choices are explored. This synthesis describes how sibling birth rank is affiliated with generalized personality traits and likelihood of siblings with these traits identifying with corresponding career interest-types associated with Holland’s vocational theory. Suggestions for future research include empirical studies investigating these connections, such the use of qualitative studies that examine the insights and experiences of all sibling groups, including those that represent less traditional configurations.
","abstract_html":"<p>This synthetic literature review examines the characteristics of sibling configurations— which refer to the ordinal position of siblings, age spacing, and sex composition—in a traditional family setting. A general review of the literature on sibling configurations and relationships is presented, and their potential roles in the development of personality traits, self-concept and identity, and career choices are explored. This synthesis describes how sibling birth rank is affiliated with generalized personality traits and likelihood of siblings with these traits identifying with corresponding career interest-types associated with Holland’s vocational theory. Suggestions for future research include empirical studies investigating these connections, such the use of qualitative studies that examine the insights and experiences of all sibling groups, including those that represent less traditional configurations.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sullinger, Alyssa"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MSEd","degree_level":"Immediate Access","degree_discipline":"Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Matthew J. Bundick","Debra Hyatt-Burkhart","Waganesh Zeleke"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:09:13Z","subjects":["sibling","family","identity","personality","career","birth order","development","Education","Life Sciences","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/206","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Matthew J. Bundick","Debra Hyatt-Burkhart","Waganesh Zeleke"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sullinger, Alyssa"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-12-13T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Immediate Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MSEd"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["sibling","family","identity","personality","career","birth order","development","Education","Life Sciences","Social and Behavioral Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/206"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This synthetic literature review examines the characteristics of sibling configurations— which refer to the ordinal position of siblings, age spacing, and sex composition—in a traditional family setting. A general review of the literature on sibling configurations and relationships is presented, and their potential roles in the development of personality traits, self-concept and identity, and career choices are explored. This synthesis describes how sibling birth rank is affiliated with generalized personality traits and likelihood of siblings with these traits identifying with corresponding career interest-types associated with Holland’s vocational theory. Suggestions for future research include empirical studies investigating these connections, such the use of qualitative studies that examine the insights and experiences of all sibling groups, including those that represent less traditional configurations.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Role of Sibling Configuration in Identity and Career Development"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Matthew J. Bundick","Debra Hyatt-Burkhart","Waganesh Zeleke"],"dc:creator":["Sullinger, Alyssa"],"dc:date.available":["2017-12-13T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This synthetic literature review examines the characteristics of sibling configurations— which refer to the ordinal position of siblings, age spacing, and sex composition—in a traditional family setting. A general review of the literature on sibling configurations and relationships is presented, and their potential roles in the development of personality traits, self-concept and identity, and career choices are explored. This synthesis describes how sibling birth rank is affiliated with generalized personality traits and likelihood of siblings with these traits identifying with corresponding career interest-types associated with Holland’s vocational theory. Suggestions for future research include empirical studies investigating these connections, such the use of qualitative studies that examine the insights and experiences of all sibling groups, including those that represent less traditional configurations.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/206"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["sibling","family","identity","personality","career","birth order","development","Education","Life Sciences","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"dc:title":["The Role of Sibling Configuration in Identity and Career Development"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Counseling, Psychology, & Special Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["Immediate Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["MSEd"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:09:13Z"}